Change in indicies of distress among Latino and Anglo female caregivers of elderly relatives with dementia: Site-specific results from the REACH national collaborative studyCitation Gallagher-Thompson, D., Coon, D.W., Solano, N., Ambler, C., Rabinowitz, Y. & Thompson, L. (2003). Change in indicies of distress among Latino and Anglo female caregivers of elderly relatives with dementia: Site-specific results from the REACH national collaborative study. The Gerontologist, 43(4), 580-591. Design 10-week Randomized controlled study Participants The participants were N=213 female AD caregivers (122 Anglo and 91 Latina) Outcome / Dependent Variables The dependent variables of the study were: Caregiver depression (measured on the CES-D scale), Caregiver Coping (Revised Ways of Coping Checklist), Caregiver Social Support (Inventory of Socially Supportive Behaviors), Caregiver burden and bother (Revised Memory and Behavior Checklist), and Care receiver self-care impairment and cognitive functioning were co-variates.
Procedure Two levels of intervention were investigated: Coping with Caregiving Class: a psychoeducational group intervention (instruction and practice in small groups to learn specific cognitive and behavioral skills). Enhanced Support Group: guided discussion and empathetic listening to develop reciprocal support within the group.
Outcomes Caregivers in the Coping with Caregiving Class, compared to support group participants, reported decreased depression, increased use of positive coping strategies, the tendency to use fewer negative coping strategies, and the experience of fewer negative interactions in their social network. Compared to baseline, caregivers in both groups were less bothered by care receiver memory and behavior problems. The psychoeducational intervention was beneficial regardless of educational background.
Author Gallagher-Thompson, D., Coon, D.W., Solano, N., Ambler, C., Rabinowitz, Y. & Thompson, L. | 
