title: The Memory Club: Providing support to persons with early-stage dementia and their care partners.
abstract: There is a growing emphasis on delivering services for persons with early-stage dementia (ie, ''persons with memory loss,'' or PWMLs) and their family members (care partners). The goal of this evaluation was to determine whether participation in the Memory Club, a 10- to 13-session joint support group, would result in decreased distress, enhanced preparation for care, and improved feelings of confidence managing the challenges of early-stage dementia. The single group, pre-/post-test evaluation included 63 PWMLs and 61 care partners who participated in three Memory Club sites in Minnesota. Paired T-test results found that care partners reported significant (P < .05) increases in preparation activities, feelings of preparation, and confidence in managing memory loss. The results suggest that the Memory Club can fill an important gap in early-stage dementia care by offering care partners the opportunity to plan, prepare, and increase coping skills in the face of early dementia progression.
authors.affiliation: Center on Aging, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. gaug0015@umn.edu
authors.forename: Joseph E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Gaugler
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gallagher-Winker
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kehrberg
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lunde
authors.forename: Connie M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Marsolek
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ringham
authors.forename: Gerise
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barclay
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008910:Minnesota; D020380:Needs Assessment; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome