title: Memory Care and Wellness Services: Efficacy of Specialized Dementia Care in Adult Day Services.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This investigation evaluated participant and caregiver outcomes of a program of specialized dementia adult day services (ADS; Memory Care and Wellness Services: MCWS).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred eighty-seven participant-caregiver dyads were enrolled in a quasiexperimental research investigation; 162 attended MCWS and 25 were comparison dyads that met eligibility criteria but did not have access to ADS within their communities. The objectives of this investigation were to evaluate whether MCWS improved quality of life, mood, behavior, or functional status for participants with dementia and whether caregivers experienced decreased stress, burden, or depression, compared with comparison dyads.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were seen between MCWS and comparison dyads at 3 months. However, after 6 months, MCWS participants exhibited significantly fewer depressive behaviors (p < .05) and a trend toward fewer total behavior problems (p < .10) than comparison participants, and MCWS caregivers exhibited significantly less distress over behavior problems (total behavior problems, memory problems, depressive problems, all p < .05) than comparison caregivers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although modest, outcomes represent a reversal of the typical direction of change in both behavior problems and caregiver distress, despite the progression of cognitive and functional impairment. Caregivers were highly satisfied with the services. The MCWS program provides a model of a community-based dementia ADS and results provide support for further development of the program.
authors.affiliation: Psychosocial & Community Health, University of Washington School of Nursing, Seattle. logsdon@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Rebecca G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Logsdon
authors.affiliation: Psychosocial & Community Health, University of Washington School of Nursing, Seattle.
authors.forename: Kenneth C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Pike
authors.affiliation: Washington Department of Social and Health Services, Aging and Long-Term Support Administration, Olympia.
authors.forename: Lynne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Korte
authors.affiliation: Washington Department of Social and Health Services, Aging and Long-Term Support Administration, Olympia.
authors.forename: Candace
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goehring
mesh_terms: D000069537:Adult Day Care Centers / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: Adult day services; Caregiving; Dementia