Caring for a relative or friend with dementia is often described as burdensome (Reference Acton and JeongheeActon 2001) and it can have an impact on carers’ physical health (Reference Pinquart and SorensenPinquart 2003; Reference Zhu, Scarmeas and OrnsteinZhu 2015) and anxiety levels (Reference Cooper, Balamurali and LivingstonCooper 2007). In addition to providing care for people with dementia, health and social care services offer support for their carers, to improve outcomes for both and to reduce carer burden. Interventions to aid this group of carers include general carer support, education, formal approaches to care and respite, as well as multicomponent interventions (a combination of different types of intervention). But availability of these interventions varies nationally, and evidence of their efficacy is at best mixed, with considerable heterogeneity in results.
Reviewing the effectiveness of interventions for carers of people with dementia is not easy – mixed results from heterogeneous studies challenge the generalisability of findings and make it difficult to make evidence-based decisions regarding appropriate and timely support for carers. Furthermore, studies of such interventions are fraught with methodological difficulties, including poor quality (Reference Acton and JeongheeActon 2001), lack of conceptual clarity of outcome measures (e.g. ‘burden’, which has subjective and objective measures), overlap between intervention types, poor definition of interventions, and small samples that often do not include men or ethnic minorities.
The purpose of this article is to provide an updated overview of the evidence base for interventions that are principally aimed at carers of patients with dementia. It is important to recognise, as pointed out by Reference Gitlin, Marx and StanleyGitlin and colleagues (2015), that most studies are carried out separately from the care system and may not be reflected in real-world practice.
Method
Our review method is shown in online Fig. DS1. In essence, we searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Database, Social Care Online and Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA) for completed studies of all interventions principally aimed at carers of people with dementia. We excluded meta-analyses and reviews, and studies that scored <3 on a five-criteria quality assessment: this left us with 56 studies, the findings of which we discuss here. In keeping with similar reviews (e.g. Reference Acton and JeongheeActon 2001; Reference Cooper, Mukadam and KatonaCooper 2012), we categorised interventions into eight discrete groups: counselling and support; education; psychology; occupational therapy; formal approaches to care; telecare; multicomponent; and other.
Results
Counselling and support
Counselling and support groups are informal, mutually supportive and often run by the third sector (the voluntary sector).
Carers anecdotally report strong benefits from peer support of others ‘in the same boat’ as them. Often, counselling is provided in settings outside of health and social care services, which may increase accessibility.
Counselling and support groups have been shown to benefit carers in a number of ways, including reducing burden (Reference Chien and LeeChien 2008; Reference WangWang 2011), ameliorating depressive symptoms (Reference Ulstein, Sandvik and WyllerUlstein 2007; Reference Mittelman, Brodaty and WallenMittleman 2008) and improving quality of life. There is also evidence to suggest improvements in carers’ self-rated health and greater overall satisfaction with the caregiving role (Reference Mittelman, Roth and ClayMittlemann 2007). Comparative studies between existing support groups in different settings (i.e. day hospital and third-sector groups) show no statistically demonstrated benefits of one over the other (Reference Bartfay and BartfayBartfay 2013). More structured counselling interventions delivered over a fixed period of time (Reference Joling, van Marwijk and van der HorstJoling 2012) anecdotally reduce carer burden, but have not significantly demonstrated benefit. Perhaps this suggests that a more flexible, less prescriptive approach is better.
Educational interventions
Educational interventions primarily aim to impart knowledge or skills to help carers in their caregiving role. Dementia education is a priority in the UK and most post-diagnostic follow-up includes a component of psychoeducation. However, evidence is mixed (Table 1) and larger studies (Reference Kurz, Wagenpfeil and HallauerKurz 2010; Reference de Rotrou, Cantegreil and Faucounaude Rotrou 2011) failed to demonstrate any benefit in their measured outcomes.
Evidence base for psychoeducation of carers of people with dementia
Although psychoeducation may not reduce depressive symptoms in carers, other benefits have been demonstrated in smaller studies, including increased confidence in caring (Reference Ducharme, Levesque and LachanceDucharme 2011), reduced burden (Reference Chien and LeeChien 2008), increased competence (Reference Hepburn, Lewis and TornatoreHepburn 2007) and an improvement in mental health (Reference Dias, Dewey and D'SouzaDias 2008).
The current ‘one size fits all’ approach to education groups needs to change – they should be culturally sensitive, and may need to be gender specific. Many published trials have failed to reflect this. Male carers may benefit from an approach based more on problem-solving, for example.
Psychology
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2006) recommends that carers who experience psychological distress as a result of caring for someone with dementia should be offered psychological therapy by a specialist practitioner. Group-based cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) has demonstrated positive results (Reference Losada, Márquez-González and Romero-MorenoLosada 2011) in modifying carers’ dysfunctional thoughts and a small but significant benefit in reducing depression. Time is of the essence for many carers – although longer, intensive interventions work, many carers simply cannot commit the time to them. Shorter CBT sessions (Reference Márquez-González, Losada and IzalMárquez-González 2007) and 2-week intensive CBT (Reference Gitlin, Winter and DennisGitlin 2010) have also demonstrated benefit on anxiety and depressive symptoms, as has a manual-based coping strategy (Reference Livingston, Barber and RapaportLivingston 2013, Reference Livingston, Barber and Rapaport2014).
Formal approaches to care
This includes appropriate care management, care programming and use of specialist nurses to deliver care. Formal care management involves one clearly identified member of health or social care staff who coordinates care throughout the patient's and carer's journey. Early assessment and identification of problems can trigger appropriate care pathways, often guided by a protocol followed by the care manager in collaboration with the carer. The proposed benefits include improved communication between health and social care services, screening of carers for mental health problems and early access to treatment, well-coordinated planned support, timely identification of potential crises, and more organised collaborative care (Reference Lam, Lee and ChungLam 2010). Continuity of staff is key, but in reality very difficult to achieve (Reference Spijker, Wollersheim and TeerenstraSpijker 2011). Additionally, this approach may be too prescriptive for most carers – consequently, most studies do not show statistically demonstrable benefits.
To encourage more collaborative care between caregivers and health professionals, Reference Simpson, Wakefield and SpiersSimpson et al (2006) developed caregiver-held care records, with sections for completion by carers, families and health professionals. Use of the record was associated with reduced carer strain, but did not improve carer knowledge of dementia overall, nor did it improve health outcomes for carers. However, this study was completed before the introduction of widespread cholinesterase inhibitors for dementia in the UK, and at a time when patients with dementia were often referred late in their diagnosis, so the carers may have been under significant strain for a prolonged period. The authors postulate that caregiver-held records may be of greater benefit to patients and carers in the earlier stages of diagnosis.
An exploratory analysis of data (Reference Connor, McNeese-Smith and VickreyConnor 2008) examined the significance of a number of variables in a nurse-led care management programme. While use of a care manager to explore care options in general was not associated with an improvement in caregiver mastery, specific approaches, such as assessment of the home environment, were.
Reference Fortinsky, Kulldorff and KleppingerFortinsky et al (2009) looked at the effect on patient outcomes and carers of a dementia care consultation intervention for family caregivers that included a targeted, carer-held care plan, counselling and collaboration with the carers’ general practitioner. The rate of admission to hospital or a care home was twice as high among controls than among actively managed patients: the difference was small but approached significance. Carers who were more satisfied with the intervention showed the greatest improvement in self-efficacy, but there were no significant differences specifically on burden or depression, perhaps as the small sample meant that the study was insufficiently powered to identify small but significant change.
Telecare
Distance-based interventions, using telephones and other technology, have become increasingly used in recent years. Use of technology to provide carer support may be more convenient for the carers, save money for both carers and providers, and eliminate travel and the need for extra support for the patient while the carer is away. A summary of the evidence is given in Table 2.
Evidence base for distance-based support for carers of people with dementia
Telephone interventions
The most studied distance-based interventions are those delivered by telephone, probably because telephones are readily available, cheap and carers do not require training to use them. Results on the benefits of telephone interventions are promising, although some studies are of suboptimal quality and involve small numbers. Reference Tremont, Davis and BishopTremont et al (2008) showed that a telephone-based intervention providing psychoeducation, emotional support and direction of carers to appropriate services was significantly beneficial in reducing caregiver burden and reactions to problem behaviours of dementia, identified as a main contributor to caregiver stress. Furthermore, fewer depressive symptoms were reported in those randomised to the telephone intervention compared with controls, although this did not reach statistical significance (this may in part have reflected that those recruited to the study had lower baseline depression scores than in comparative studies). A more recent study by the same group demonstrated that a more refined family-based telephone intervention reduced depression and reactions to behaviour problems compared with more conventional telephone support (Reference Tremont, Davis and PapandonatosTremont 2015). In contrast, a telephone coaching intervention (Reference van Mierlo, Meiland and Dröesvan Meirlo 2012) was shown to have a significant large effect (0.96) on carers’ mental health complaints (measured using the General Health Questionnaire) and effects were greater when combined with day care compared with day care alone.
With regard to specifically targeting depressive symptoms, a randomised controlled trial (RCT) (Reference Glueckauf, Davis and WillisGlueckauf 2012) showed superiority of telephone CBT over face-to-face treatment, although the sample was particularly small (n = 7) and involved African American caregivers only. Group-based telephone support may also be effective (Reference Winter and GitlinWinter 2007). Using conference calling technology, small groups ‘met’ weekly to share coping strategies, including cognitive reframing and practical approaches to organising care routines, and to provide each other with social support. Although there was no difference in overall depression scores at 6 months, older carers appeared to benefit more from the intervention, perhaps, as the study's authors suggest, because of greater baseline levels of social isolation (there was no significant difference in baseline depression scores). However, older carers also participated in significantly fewer sessions than younger ones, and as with any ‘high tech’ intervention that requires an initial period of learning, there are concerns that lack of participation may be attributed to difficulties in using the technology by the older group.
DVD support
Multimedia (DVD) training programmes have also received some interest. In one study (Reference Gallagher-Thompson, Wang and LiuGallagher-Thompson 2010), a DVD intervention using role-play and narration to illustrate managing problem behaviours of dementia and provide education and strategies for preparing for placement was compared with a control ‘information only’ DVD. While both groups showed a decrease in depressive symptoms on the Centre for Epidemiologic Depression Scale (CES-D), the difference between them was not statistically significant, although those in the intervention group did score significantly higher on the positive affect subscale than controls. Stress related to problem behaviours was also significantly reduced in those using the intervention DVD. Such benefits were not seen in a study (Reference Liddle, Smith-Conway and BakerLiddle 2012) that used a brief DVD-based training programme focusing on memory and communication strategies between caregivers and the person with dementia. Although a greater proportion of carers who received the intervention reported improved perceptions related to their caregiving role (46% v. 13% of controls), the difference did not reach significance. Nor was there a significant impact on burden.
A preliminary RCT (Reference Gant, Steffen and LauderdaleGant 2007) comparing telephone-based psychoeducation with combined telephone and video support in male caregivers (n = 15 and 17 respectively) showed benefit in both groups in terms of increased positive affect, decreased negative affect and improved general health (measured by total number of subjective complaints reported), although no superiority of the combined intervention was demonstrated.
Internet and web-based interventions
Given that many homes now have internet access via computers and mobile phones, the use of the internet to deliver carer support seems promising. Reference Finkel, Czaja and SchulzFinkel et al (2007) developed a support intervention using screen phones with computer access to a website to deliver individual education sessions and group-based support for 6 months. Similar to other technology-based interventions, they did not observe a significant benefit when compared with an information-only control group, although in stratifying the results it did appear that those who were most depressed significantly benefitted the most, suggesting that timely delivery of this type of intervention should be considered. However, a systematic review (Reference Boots, de Vugt and van KnippenbergBoots 2014) concluded that internet interventions were not supported by high-quality research evidence, and called for further research.
Multicomponent interventions
Multicomponent interventions consist of two or more different types of intervention. They might include components of support, counselling, education, respite care and psychology. There is a moderate positive evidence base for multicomponent interventions (Table 3), although there is still debate regarding which components and in which combination are most effective. Trials in this area are often larger, perhaps because recruitment is easier as the intervention is more representative of day-to-day practice.
Evidence base for multicomponent interventions for carers of people with dementiaa
Most of the trials that we identified demonstrated favourable outcomes for carers, which can extend beyond the period of support delivered. For example, a post-study analysis of the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health (REACH) trial (Reference Holland, Currier and Gallagher-ThompsonHolland 2009) demonstrated that those supported with a multifaceted intervention while their loved one was alive showed lower symptoms of complicated grief at long-term follow-up following bereavement.
Larger multicomponent trials have also allowed comparisons across ethnic groups. Reference Belle, Burgio and BurnsBelle et al (2006) compared outcomes of a combined education, psychological support and telephone-based intervention across three groups of caregivers in the USA (White/Caucasian; Black/African American; and Hispanic/Latino). There were some intergroup differences: the Hispanic/Latino participants showed significant benefit in all measured domains, and the White/Caucasian group gained greater social support. All of the intervention groups showed significant improvement in quality of life, with a lower prevalence of clinical depression.
Other interventions
Other support interventions that we identified include befriending, exercise and poetry writing.
Befriending
Third-sector organisations can provide befrienders, who help carers by signposting services and providing emotional support through companionship, conversation and being a ‘listening ear’. These services have face validity in improving carers’ well-being, health-related quality of life, loneliness and perceived social support, but an RCT involving 236 carers (Reference Charlesworth, Shepstone and WilsonCharlesworth 2008) failed to demonstrate benefit of befriender services when compared with ‘usual care’.
Exercise
Studies have shown that the benefits of exercise include improved mental and physical health and better sleep. It seems reasonable to assume that these benefits could extend to carers and a few studies have investigated this. In one small RCT (intervention group n = 16), Reference Stella, Canonici and GobbiStella et al (2011) showed that a 6-month exercise programme for both patients with dementia and their carers decreased neuropsychiatric symptoms and depression in the patients and significantly reduced burden in caregivers. The programme consisted of aerobic and balance exercises for 60 minutes three times a week. The authors attributed the reduction in caregiving burden to an improvement in neuropsychiatric symptoms in the patients. A major strength of the intervention was that it targeted both patients and carers simultaneously, although larger studies with greater power would be required to confirm the results. A similar study (Reference Hirano, Suzuki and KuzuyaHirano 2011) showed that moderate exercise three times a week could reduce caregiver burden and improve sleep, although again numbers in the intervention group (n = 17) were small. In contrast, a larger RCT (n = 157) by Reference Connell and JanevicConnell & Janevic (2009) did not demonstrate a significant benefit of exercise for carers in terms of reducing burden, depressive symptoms or perceived stress. At baseline, however, those randomised to the intervention spent significantly greater time exercising than the controls, which may have skewed results. Furthermore, individuals in the intervention group chose their own exercise goals and these varied considerably, which may account for the absence of a significant difference between those exercising and those not. Reference Carbonneau, Caron and DesrosiersCarbonneau et al (2011) looked at adapting a leisure programme for patients with dementia, with the specific aim of maintaining leisure pursuits in daily life, but failed to quantitatively demonstrate an improvement in caregiver well-being. Although caregivers in the intervention group initially showed an improvement in self-efficacy, this was not sustained.
Poetry
Reference Kidd, Zauszniewski and MorrisKidd et al (2011) reasoned that a simple poetry writing intervention may benefit caregivers by providing a means of expressing some of the challenges they face. Carers were given open-ended instructions to write poetry over a 4-week period. Most chose to write about their caregiving situation and expressed an increased sense of acceptance with their caregiving role as a result. However, the results are not generalisable because of the small and homogeneous sample.
Conclusions
There is a rapidly expanding evidence base for psychosocial interventions to support carers of patients with dementia, but the significant heterogeneity in both the interventions studied and the outcomes measured make drawing generalised conclusions difficult.
Support interventions are more likely to be effective if:
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• multiple supports are offered (i.e. a multicomponent approach is taken)
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• educational interventions provide opportunity for active learning (e.g. role-play scenarios rather than ‘information only’)
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• they are simple: the more complicated an intervention is, the less likely a carer is to adhere to it.
Distance interventions can be effective and should be considered, especially for older carers and those in isolated rural locations.
Simply allocating a specific keyworker, supplying written only information or referring on to peer support groups are not likely to be effective.
MCQs
Select the single best option for each question stem
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1 Regarding the evidence base for supports for carers of people with dementia:
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a drawing generalised conclusions regarding their effectiveness is easy
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b longer, complex interventions are more effective than short, simple interventions
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c there is no evidence that distance-based interventions are effective
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d referring carers to Alzheimer's UK groups is the only thing you can do
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e combination of different interventions at different times is most effective.
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2 Education groups for carers:
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a should provide support over several months
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b should promote active learning
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c that have culturally sensitive adaptations are no more effective than standard groups
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d are less effective for male carers
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e have been shown to reduce rates of depression in carers.
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3 As regards formal approaches to care:
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a they include care management, care programming and specialist nurses to deliver care
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b formal care management has consistent evidence of effectiveness
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c use of a protocol to trigger appropriate care pathways for carers can reduce carer anxiety
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d caregiver-held records can reduce carer anxiety
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e regular care meetings have been shown to reduce depression in carers.
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4 As regards use of telecare for carers of people with dementia:
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a use of technology to support older carers does not work
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b providing telephone support to carers can be effective in reducing carer stress
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c telecare is not effective in providing support to male carers
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d there is strong evidence that computer-based supports decrease perceived burden in carers
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e there is no evidence that skills-training DVDs are helpful.
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5 As regards multicomponent interventions for carers:
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a they may include combinations of support, education, counselling and psychology
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b trials are too small to generalise results
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c interventions are too complicated and expensive to work
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d the evidence suggests that the most effective combination includes psychoeducation and CBT
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e they do not reduce burden of caring in Latino caregivers.
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MCQ answers
| 1 | e | 2 | b | 3 | a | 4 | b | 5 | a |
eLetters
No eLetters have been published for this article.