Connect for Caregivers

Not Applicable

Completed

Brief Summary: Connect for Caregivers is a intervention feasibility pilot study. The purpose of the study is to pilot test a newly developed single session behavioral intervention to help caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's Disease or related dementias gain understanding of the importance of increasing social connectedness, awareness of their personal barriers to connectedness, and knowledge of local resources for promoting connectedness.

Detailed Description: Connect for Caregivers is a intervention feasibility pilot study. We use a mixed methods approach to initiate the development and testing process for a single session behavioral intervention to help caregivers gain understanding of the importance of increasing connectedness, awareness of their personal barriers to connectedness, and knowledge of local resources for promoting connectedness. The intervention-"Connect 4 Caregivers"-has three components: 1) psychoeducational materials on the importance of connectedness for health and wellbeing; 2) a card sort-based 'discussion prioritization tool' that systematizes and routinizes the process of identifying and prioritizing barriers to connectedness; 3) personalized resources to address the identified barriers/targets.

Aim 1 is to investigate whether Connect for Caregivers is associated with a signal for efficacy for changing connectedness by having n=5 caregivers complete the single session intervention and provide quantitative and qualitative data on their experience with the intervention and motivation to work on increasing their social connectedness (a signal for potential efficacy).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Age ≥ 50 yrs;
English speaking;
Caregiver (age 50 or older) for a community-dwelling family member with ADRD, living with (or in close proximity to) family member with dementia;
Elevated caregiving distress: Above population mean (>11) on 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and/or at least moderate caregiver strain (score >= 5) on the Modified Caregiver Strain Index (MCSI).
Social connectedness: UCLA Loneliness Scale: Short Form score of >5.

Exclusion Criteria

Primary language is not English;
Current problem drinking on the AUDIT-C (score of 5 or greater indicating exclusion);
Current non-alcohol psychoactive substance abuse (MINI Neuropsychiatric Interview), psychotic disorders (current and lifetime, MINI), bipolar disorder (MINI), and current mood disorder with psychotic features (MINI);
Significant cognitive impairment (MOCA <22); and
Hearing problems that preclude completion of the intervention.

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Connect for Caregivers	Connect for Caregivers	Connect for Caregivers is a single session behavioral intervention with three components: 1) psychoeducation on the importance of connectedness for health and well-being; a card sort-based discussion prioritization tool that systematizes and routinizes the process of identifying and prioritizing barriers to connectedness; 3) personalized resources to address the identified barriers and targets.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Perceived Autonomy	two weeks	This is a self-report measure that assesses a mechanism posited by Self-Determination Theory to increase motivation for healthy behaviors. It has 6 items, a range from 6-30, and higher scores indicate greater perceived autonomy.
Perceived Competence Scale	two weeks	This is a self-report measure that assesses a mechanism posited by Self-Determination Theory to increase motivation for healthy behaviors. It has 7 items, a range from 7-35, and higher scores indicate greater perceived competence.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Loneliness	two weeks	UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3, which assesses self-reported loneliness. 20 items, rated as to how often the participant has felt a certain way in the prior month (e.g., "How often do you feel alone?") -- "never" (1), "rarely" (2), "sometimes" (3), or "often" (4). Higher scores indicate greater loneliness. Total scores range from 20 to 80, with higher scores representing a worse outcome (i.e., greater loneliness).
Knowledge of Social Engagement	two weeks	This is a self-report measure that assesses a subject's knowledge of the importance of social connections. It has 4 items, a range from 4-20, and higher scores indicate greater knowledge.