Impact of two psychosocial interventions on white and African American family caregivers of individuals with dementia.
OBJECTIVE
We developed manual-guided, replicable interventions based on common needs and cultural preferences of White and African American family caregivers (CGs) of individuals with dementia, and we evaluated these interventions after a 6-month follow-up.


METHODS
We randomly assigned White (n = 70) and African American (n = 48) CGs of individuals with dementia to either a skills training condition or a minimal support control condition.


RESULTS
The degree of treatment implementation was methodically assessed, and findings demonstrated that both interventions were delivered according to protocol and were well received by CGs. CGs in both groups reported decreasing levels of problem behaviors and appraisals of behavioral bother, and increased satisfaction with leisure activities over time. On a measure of appraisal of distress related to behavior problems, White CGs showed more improvement in the minimal support control condition, and African American CGs showed the greatest improvements in the skills training condition. Spouse and nonspouse CGs also showed differential responses to intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Brief manual-guided interventions can be effective with White and African American CGs, and greater attention should be paid to possible differential responses to interventions by race and relationship to care recipient.
Burgio
Louis
L
Applied Gerontology Program, University of Alabama, 210 Osband Hall, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0315, USA. LBurgio@sw.ua.edu
Stevens
Alan
A
Guy
Delois
D
Roth
David L
DL
Haley
William E
WE
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044383:Black People; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy*; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American