ALZHEIMER'S: EFFICACY OF HOME STIMULATION AND SUPPORT

这项先导性研究旨在调查一种新的 阿尔茨海默病认知刺激的家庭管理方案 由单一家庭单位(照顾者+患者)实施的家庭与 双(配对)家庭单元。疗效由以下因素决定：1)护理者 和患者的结果，以及2)家庭实施的可能性。它 假设这样的计划将提高照顾者的福祉和 患者的功能状态，并将得到更有效的执行 通过双重家庭的方法。24个有病人的老年家庭单元 (60至75岁)处于阿尔茨海默氏症的轻至中度阶段 疾病将从阿尔茨海默病研究中心挑选出来。在……里面 除了神经心理学、医学和神经学筛查外， 将对患者的认知和行为功能、运动进行评估 模式和吸毒情况。照顾者将接受身体和精神方面的评估 健康状况、感受到的负担、亲属关系支持和休息时间。这个 认知刺激管理计划将为照顾者提供 一个结构化的计划，可以合并到每日计划中 一家人。活动(沟通、记忆和解决问题的技能) 旨在挑战痴呆症患者，同时允许认知 波动。在培训中，护理员将获得 对日益复杂的活动的分类。一种实验设计 配合交叉安排的待遇(执行)条件 用于评估该计划的影响。家庭单位将随机 分配给单家庭或双家庭条件的 实施为期12周的计划，之后他们将被安置在 交替状态12周。虽然再培训会介入， 将研究结转效应。参赛者将在以下时间接受重新评估 每个为期12周的项目。将对协方差进行重复测量分析 用来检验假设。对护理者日志的定性分析将 评估计划内容和相关问题的有效性。如果 家庭实施管理方案的方法是可行的，未来研究 将重点关注项目使用和管理中的性别和照顾者差异， 以及成本效益问题和长期后果 照顾者。

This pilot study is designed to investigate the efficacy of a new family-based management program of cognitive stimulation for Alzheimer's families when implemented by single family units (caregiver + patient) vs. dual (paired) family units. Efficacy will be determined by: 1) caregiver and patient outcomes, and 2) potential for implementation by families. It is hypothesized that such a program will enhance caregiver well-being and the functional status of the patient, and will be more effectively executed by the dual family approach. Twenty-four older family units with patients (60 to 75 years of age) in the mild to moderate stage of Alzheimer's disease will be selected from an Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. In addition to neuropsychological, medical, and neurological screening, patients will be assessed on cognitive and behavioral functioning, exercise patterns, and drug use. Caregivers will be assessed on physical and mental health status, perceived burden, kinship support, and respite time. The management program of cognitive stimulation will provide the caregiver with a structured plan that can be incorporated into the daily schedule of the family. The activities (communication, memory, and problem solving skills) are designed to challenge the dementia patient while allowing for cognitive fluctuations. In the training, the caregivers will be provided with a taxonomy of activities of increasing complexity. An experimental design with crossover arrangement of treatment (implementation) conditions will be used to evaluate the impact of the program. Family units will be randomly assigned to either the single family or dual family condition for implementing the 12-week program, after which they will be placed in the alternate condition for 12 weeks. Although retraining will intervene, carry-over effects will be studied. Participants will be reassessed after each 12-week program. Repeated measures analyses of covariance will be used to test the hypotheses. Qualitative analyses of caregiver logs will evaluate the effectiveness of program content and related issues. If the family implemented management program approach is feasible, future research will focus on sex and caregiver differences in program use and management, as well as cost effectiveness issues and long range consequences for the caregivers.