Memory and communication support in dementia: research-based strategies for caregivers.
BACKGROUND
Difficulties with memory and communication are prominent and distressing features of dementia which impact on the person with dementia and contribute to caregiver stress and burden. There is a need to provide caregivers with strategies to support and maximize memory and communication abilities in people with dementia. In this project, a team of clinicians, researchers and educators in neuropsychology, psychogeriatrics, nursing and speech pathology translated research-based knowledge from these fields into a program of practical strategies for everyday use by family and professional caregivers.


METHODS
From the available research evidence, the project team identified compensatory or facilitative strategies to assist with common areas of difficulty, and structured these under the mnemonics RECAPS (for memory) and MESSAGE (for communication). This information was adapted for presentation in a DVD-based education program in accordance with known characteristics of effective caregiver education.


RESULTS
The resultant DVD comprises (1) information on the nature and importance of memory and communication in everyday life; (2) explanations of common patterns of difficulty and preserved ability in memory and communication across the stages of dementia; (3) acted vignettes demonstrating the strategies, based on authentic samples of speech in dementia; and (4) scenarios to prompt the viewer to consider the benefits of using the strategies.


CONCLUSIONS
Using a knowledge-translation framework, information and strategies can be provided to family and professional caregivers to help them optimize residual memory and communication in people with dementia. Future development of the materials, incorporating consumer feedback, will focus on methods for enabling wider dissemination.
Smith
Erin R
ER
The University of Queensland, Division of Speech Pathology, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Brisbane, Australia. e.smith1@uq.edu.au
Broughton
Megan
M
Baker
Rosemary
R
Pachana
Nancy A
NA
Angwin
Anthony J
AJ
Humphreys
Michael S
MS
Mitchell
Leander
L
Byrne
Gerard J
GJ
Copland
David A
DA
Gallois
Cindy
C
Hegney
Desley
D
Chenery
Helen J
HJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical