STAR-C: Managing Difficult Behaviors: A Standardized Intervention to Help Family Caregivers

STAR-Caregivers (STAR-C) is a standardized intervention to help family caregivers identify, reduce, and manage difficult behavioral symptoms of their relative with Alzheimer's disease.

Organization:

University of Washington

The University of Washington School of Nursing is a top-ranked component of a research university with an academic health center; a world-class school with global and local partners; and part of a three-campus university accountable to a state with pressing problems in access to education and health care. Our missions are closely related to each of these environments and each simultaneously influences our ability to promote excellence in all we do. At the beginning of a new century, the School's overarching goals are to address the challenges presented by the health care environment and to promote excellence in teaching, research, and service.

Location:

Seattle, WA

How does it work?

STAR-C is a behavioral intervention delivered by trained clinicians at the caregiver's home and over the phone over a period of 6 months. It aims to decrease the symptoms and the caregivers' related feelings of stress, burden, and depression, by teaching to the caregivers the ABC approach.

The STAR-C manual provides detailed instructions for replication of the intervention, family caregiver assignments, and handouts. The manuals are free while the supply lasts and then will be available for the cost of replication.

Why is it successful?

Evaluated in a controlled study, the intervention showed significant results in reducing difficult behaviors in the care receiver and depressive symptoms in the caregiver. The same evaluation also showed training of clinicians to be effective in preserving fidelity to the original intervention.

For more information: nursing.washington.edu