title: The PLUS intervention: a pilot test with caregivers of depressed older adults.
abstract: The PLUS Nursing Intervention, which is aimed at caregivers of elderly persons with depression and designed to increase caregiver personal resources, respond to caregiver learning/skill development needs, address caregiver unanticipated needs, and assist with caregiver stress/illness management, was pilot tested for efficacy. Thirteen families were assigned to the PLUS group and 12 families to the standard home care control group. There were no significant outcome differences between the two groups. However, caregivers who received the PLUS intervention made significantly more improvements over Standard Home Care caregivers when patients made functional improvements. Findings suggest that patient functioning might be a better predictor of long-term caregiver outcomes than psychiatric symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environments for Health, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. shortond@iupui.edu
authors.forename: Sara L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Horton-Deutsch
authors.forename: Carol J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Farran
authors.forename: Eunice E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Lou
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fogg
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology*; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications