ALZHEIMER'S: EFFICACY OF HOME STIMULATION AND SUPPORT

这项初步研究旨在调查一种新的 阿尔茨海默氏症认知刺激家庭管理计划 以单一家庭单位（护理人员+患者）实施的家庭与 双（成对）家庭单位。 疗效将由以下人员确定：1）护理人员 和患者结果，以及2）家庭实施的潜力。 它 假设这样的计划将提高照顾者的幸福感， 患者的功能状态，并将更有效地执行 双重家庭的方法。 24个年长的家庭单元， (60到75岁）在轻度到中度的阿尔茨海默病阶段 疾病将从阿尔茨海默病研究中心选择。 在 除了神经心理学、医学和神经学筛查之外， 将对患者的认知和行为功能、运动 模式和吸毒 护理人员将接受身体和精神评估 健康状况，知觉负担，亲属支持，和喘息时间。 的 认知刺激管理计划将为护理人员提供 一个结构化的计划，可以纳入日常的时间表， 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的认知能力， 波动 在培训中，将为护理人员提供一个 日益复杂的活动的分类。 实验设计 治疗（实施）条件交叉安排， 用于评估该计划的影响。 家庭单位将随机 分配到单一家庭或双重家庭的条件， 实施12周的计划，之后他们将被安置在 12周的交替状态。 虽然再培训会介入， 将研究残留效应。 参与者将在 每个12周的节目。 重复测量协方差分析将 用来检验假设。 护理人员日志的定性分析将 评估计划内容的有效性和相关问题。 如果 家庭实施管理计划的方法是可行的，未来的研究 将侧重于性别和照顾者在程序使用和管理方面的差异， 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.