Outcomes of family involvement in care intervention for caregivers of individuals with dementia

Citation Maas, M. L., Reed, D., Park, M., Specht, J. P., Schutte, D., Kelly, L. S., Swason, E. A., Trip-Reimer, T., Buckwalter, K. C. (2004). Outcomes of family involvement in care intervention for caregivers of individuals with dementia. Nursing Research, 53 (2), 76-86.

Design Quasi experiment (The staff portion of the participants was not randomly assigned to groups).

Purpose The purpose of this experiment was to test the effect of the Family Involvement in Care (FIC) Partnership intervention on family members' perceptions of their caregiving role, relations with staff in Nursing Homes, and satisfaction with the care of relatives with dementia residing in special care units. The effects of the intervention on staff attitudes toward families and staff satisfaction with their caregiving role were also investigated.

Hypothesis It was hypothesized that the FIC intervention would improve relations between families and staff. In addition, the FIC intervention would alleviate caregivers' perception of loss and captivity. The intervention was expected to be of more central significance for family than staff, so the impact was expected to be more immediate for the families.

Participants 14 Midwestern nursing home special dementia care units and 185 (mostly white, mostly women) family members with care recipients at the nursing home's SCU (special care unit), staff at the SCUs (n=845, mostly white, mostly women). The staff portion of the participants was not randomly assigned to groups.

Outcome / Dependent Variables Caregiver's perception of caregiver loss and captivity; Caregiver's satisfaction with care; Caregiver's relation with staff; Staff's attitudes towards families, and satisfaction with caregiving role.

Procedure There was an initial period when staff was trained on the FIC protocol. Implementation of the FIC began as soon as the first family baseline measures (pretest) were obtained. A 9 month trial of the FIC intervention was completed for each family member. Family member outcome measures were collected bimonthly, with a baseline and four follow up collections. Staff were recruited to participate. After consent, staff outcome measures were collected at baseline before the training sessions, then every 6 months for the 2 year period of the study in each nursing home.

Outcomes The intervention had a greater effect on family caregivers than staff members. Overall, the FIC intervention is associated with ameliorated feelings of caregiver loss and captivity, and increased satisfaction with physical care, the care recipient receives at a nursing home.

Author Maas, M. L., Reed, D., Park, M., Specht, J. P., Schutte, D., Kelly, L. S., Swason, E. A., Trip-Reimer, T., Buckwalter, K. C.