Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T05:29:03.102Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Keeping the person with dementia and the informal caregiver together: a systematic review of psychosocial interventions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2016

Annemarie Rausch ,
Monique A. A. Caljouw  and
Eva S. van der Ploeg
Annemarie Rausch
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands Florence, Laan van Vredenoord 1, Rijswijk, the Netherlands
Monique A. A. Caljouw*
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
Eva S. van der Ploeg
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands Argos Zorggroep, Voorberghlaan 35, Schiedam, the Netherlands
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: M.A.A. Caljouw, PhD, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Postbus 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, the Netherlands. Phone: +31 (0)71 5268444; Fax: +31 (0)71 5268259. Email: [email protected].
Get access

Abstract

Background:

Social support, relationships, and closeness are emphasized as important by both people with dementia and their informal caregivers. Psychosocial interventions might be helpful to reinforce the relationship between a person with dementia and his or her informal caregiver. Therefore, this review explores what types of psychosocial interventions have been provided for people with dementia and their informal caregivers together, and the effectiveness of these interventions.

Methods:

PubMed, PsychInfo, Cinahl, and references of key papers were searched for studies describing a psychosocial intervention for people with dementia and their informal caregivers together. Psychosocial interventions were defined as focusing primarily on psychological or social factors.

Results:

A total of seven publications describing six studies were identified as eligible for inclusion in this review. Interventions ranged in focus from skills training to viewing/making art. The methodology of the studies varied, especially regarding the outcome measures used. The results of individual studies were mixed. A narrative synthesis of the included studies is given.

Conclusion:

Although caregiving dyads emphasize the importance of their relationship, this is mostly not taken into consideration in the design and effect evaluations of the interventions. Improved research is needed on this subject, which focuses on people with dementia living in the community and those living in nursing homes.

Keywords

dementiaAlzheimerpsychosocial interventioninformal caregivercaregiving dyadquality of life
Type
Review Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 29 , Issue 4 , April 2017 , pp. 583 - 593
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ablitt, A., Jones, G. V. and Muers, J. (2009). Living with dementia: a systematic review of the influence of relationship factors. Aging & Mental Health, 13, 497–511. doi: 10.1080/13607860902774436.Google Scholar
Auclair, U., Epstein, C. and Mittelman, M. (2009). Couples counseling in Alzheimer's disease: additional clinical findings from a novel intervention study. Clinical Gerontologist, 32, 130–146. doi: 10.1080/07317110802676809.Google Scholar
Bunn, F. et al. (2012). Psychosocial factors that shape patient and carer experiences of dementia diagnosis and treatment: a systematic review of qualitative studies. PLOS Medicine, 9, e1001331. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.100331.Google Scholar
Camic, P. M., Tischler, V. and Pearman, C. H. (2014). Viewing and making art together: a multi-session art-gallery-based intervention for people with dementia and their carers. Aging & Mental Health, 18, 161–168. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2013.818101.Google Scholar
Chiao, C. Y., Wu, H. S. and Hsiao, C. Y. (2015). Caregiver burden for informal caregivers of patients with dementia: a systematic review. International Nursing Review, 62, 340–350.Google Scholar
Day, J. R., Anderson, R. A. and Davis, L. L. (2014). Compassion fatigue in adult daughter caregivers of a parent with dementia. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 35, 796–804. doi: 10.3109/01612840.2014.917133.Google Scholar
Dugmore, O., Orrell, M. and Spector, A. (2015). Qualitative studies of psychosocial interventions for dementia: a systematic review. Aging & Mental Health, 19, 955–967. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2015.1011079.Google Scholar
Eekelaar, C., Camic, P. M. and Springham, N. (2012). Art galleries, episodic memory and verbal fluency in dementia: an exploratory study. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 6, 262–272. doi: 10.1037/a0027499.Google Scholar
Epstein, C., Auclair, U. and Mittelman, M. (2007). Couples counseling in Alzheimer's disease. Clinical Gerontologist, 30, 21–35. doi: 10.1300/j018v30n02 03.Google Scholar
Ettema, T. P., Dröes, R. M., De Lange, J., Ooms, M. E., Mellenbergh, G. J. and Ribbe, M. W. (2005). The concept of quality of life in dementia in the different stages of the disease. International Psychogeriatrics, 17, 353–370. doi: 10.1017/S1041610205002073.Google Scholar
Forsman, A. K., Nordmyr, J. and Wahlbeck, K. (2011). Psychosocial interventions for the promotion of mental health and the prevention of depression among older adults. Health Promotion International, 26, i85–i107. doi: 10.1093/heapro/dar074.Google Scholar
Gitlin, L. N., Winter, L., Burke, J., Chernett, N., Dennis, M. P. and Hauck, W. W. (2008). Tailored activities to manage neuropsychiatric behaviors in persons with dementia and reduce caregiver burden: a randomized pilot study. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 16, 229–239. doi: 10.1097/JGP.0b013e318160da72.Google Scholar
Higgins, J. P. T. et al. (2011). The cochrane collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials. BMJ, 343. doi: 10.1136/bmj.d5928.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lancioni, G. E., Cuvo, A. J. and O'Reilly, M. F. (2002). Snoezelen: an overview of research with people with developmental disabilities and dementia. Disability and Rehabilitation, 24, 175–184. doi: 10.1080/09638280110074911.Google Scholar
Liberati, A., Altman, D. G., Tetzlaff, J., Mulrow, C., Gøtzsche, P. C. and Moher, D. (2009). The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate health care interventions: explanation and elaboration. PLOS Medicine, 6, e1000100. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000100.Google Scholar
McDonnell, E. and Ryan, A. A. (2014). The experience of sons caring for a parent with dementia. Dementia, 13, 788–802. doi: 10.1177/1471301213485374.Google Scholar
Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D. G. and The PRISMA Group (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. PLoS Medicine, 6, e1000097. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed1000097.Google Scholar
Moniz-Cook, E., Agar, S., Ginson, G., Win, T. and Wang, M. (1998). A preliminary study of the effects of early intervention with people with dementia and their families in a memory clinic. Aging & Mental Health, 2, 199–211. doi: 10.1080/13607869856687.Google Scholar
Motenko, A. K. (1989). The frustrations, gratifications and well-being of dementia caregivers. The Gerontologist, 29, 166–172.Google Scholar
Pinquart, M. and Sörensen, S. (2011). Spouses, adult children, and children-in-law as caregivers of older adults: a meta-analytic comparison. Psychology and Aging, 26, 1–14. doi: 10.1037/a0021863.Google Scholar
Smits, C. H. M., De Lange, J., Droës, R. M., Meiland, F., Vernooij-Dassen, M. and Pot, A. M. (2007). Effects of combined intervention programmes for people with dementia living at home and their caregivers: a systematic review. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 22, 1181–1193.Google Scholar
Steeman, E., Dierckx de Casterlé Godderis, J. and Grypdonck, M. (2005). Living with early-stage dementia: a review of qualitative studies. The Authors Journal Compilation, 722–738.Google Scholar
Testad, I. et al. (2014). The value of personalized psychosocial interventions to address behavioural and psychosocial symptoms in people with dementia living in care home settings: a systematic review. International Psychogeriatrics, 26, 1083–1098. doi: 10.1017/S1041610214000131.Google Scholar
Van‘t Leven, N., Prick, A. E. J. C., Groenewoud, J. G., Roelofs, P. D. D. M., De Lange, J. and Pot, A. M. (2013). Dyadic interventions for community-dwelling people with dementia and their family caregivers: a systematic review. International Psychogeriatrics, 25, 1581–1603. doi: 10.1017/S1041610213000860.Google Scholar
Van Bruggen, S., Gussekloo, J., Bode, C., Touwen, D. P., Engberts, D. P. and Blom, J. W. (2016). Problems experienced by informal caregivers with older care recipients with and without cognitive impairment. Home Health Services Quarterly, doi: 10.1080/01621424.2016.1145166.Google Scholar
Van der Ploeg, E. S., Eppingstall, B., Camp, C. J., Runci, S. J., Taffe, J. and O'Connor, D. W. (2013). A randomized crossover trial to study the effect of personalized, one-to-one interaction using Montessori-based activities in agitation, affect, and engagement in nursing home residents with dementia. International Psychogeriatrics, 25, 565–575. doi: 10.1017/S1041610212002128.Google Scholar
Wadham, O., Simpson, J., Rust, J. and Murray, C. (2015). Couples’ shared experiences of dementia: a meta-analysis of the impact upon relationships and couplehood. Aging & Mental Health. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2015.1023769.Google Scholar
Woods, R. T. et al. (2012). REMCARE: reminiscence groups for people with dementia and their family caregivers – effectiveness and cost-effectiveness pragmatic multicentre randomised trial. Health Technology Assessment, 16. doi: 10.3310/hta16480.Google Scholar