Affiliations: Center for Research on Telehealth and Healthcare Communications and Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA | William Paterson University, Department of Psychology, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Department of PM&R, P.O. Box 43592, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043, USA. Tel.: +1 973 720 3400; E-mail: [email protected]
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Robert L. Glueckauf, Ph.D., Center for Research on Telehealth and Healthcare Communications, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100165, Gainesville, FL 32610-0165, USA. Tel.: +1 352 392 4154 ext. 10; Fax: +1 352 392 2980; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Family caregivers of older adults with progressive dementia (e.g., Alzheimer's disease) are faced with a variety of emotional and behavioral difficulties, such as dealing with persistent, repetitive questions, managing agitation and depression, and monitoring hygiene and self-care activities. Although professional and governmental organizations have called for the creation of community-based education and support programs, most dementia caregivers continue to receive little or no formal instruction in responding effectively to these challenges. The current paper describes the development and implementation of Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Online, a Web- and telephone-based education and support network for caregivers of individuals with progressive dementia. Lessons learned from the first two years of this state-supported initiative are discussed, followed by the findings of a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded strategic marketing initiative and an initial program evaluation of AlzOnline's Positive Caregiving classes. Finally, clinical implications and future directions for program development and evaluation research are proposed.
