Enhancing caregiver health: findings from the resources for enhancing Alzheimer's caregiver health II intervention.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationships between changes from baseline to post-Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health (REACH) intervention in caregiver (CG) self-reported health, burden, and bother.


METHODS
Randomized, multisite clinical trial.


METHODS
CG and care recipient (CR) homes in five U.S. cities.


METHODS
Four hundred ninety-five dementia CG and CR dyads (169 Hispanic, 160 white, and 166 African American) receiving intervention and their controls.


METHODS
CGs were assigned to the REACH intervention or a no-treatment control group. Intervention subjects received individual risk profiles and the REACH intervention through nine in-home and three telephone sessions over 6 months. Control subjects received two brief "check-in" telephone calls during this 6-month period.


METHODS
The primary outcome was change in CG health status from baseline to after the intervention. Secondary outcomes were CG burden and bother after the intervention.


RESULTS
After the intervention, CGs reported better self-rated health, sleep quality, physical health, and emotional health, which was related to less burden and bother with their caregiving role than for CGs not receiving the intervention. Changes in depression appeared to mediate these relationships. Several racial and ethnic group differences existed in physical and emotional health, as well as in total frustration with caregiving, emotional burden, and CG-rated bother with CR's activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living at baseline and at follow-up, although differences between baseline and posttest did not vary according to race.


CONCLUSIONS
A structured, multicomponent skills training intervention that targeted CG self-care behaviors as one of five target areas, improved self-reported health status, and decreased burden and bother in racially and ethnically diverse CGs of people with dementia.
Elliott
Amanda F
AF
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Burgio
Louis D
LD
Decoster
Jamie
J
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D017028:Caregivers; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged