50+ Lifestyles

FamTechCare: Helping Caregivers Manage Day-to-Day Situations for Family Members with Alzheimer’s Disease or Other Types of Dementia

Information from the University of Iowa College of Nursing

Researchers from the University of Iowa are conducting a research study to help caregivers who are taking care of family members who have dementia. This study is being conducted by the College of Nursing, and is in the second year of its four year study. They are currently accepting new people into the study and can answer any questions people who are currently caring for a family member with dementia might have about it.

This innovative study is designed to partner with, empower, and support caregivers and people with dementia. Caregivers receive feedback from a panel of dementia behavior experts to help identify and use new strategies to assist and support each family. By providing this timely feedback, families are able to receive help with their current issues and challenges rather than waiting for a visit with their health care providers.

Participants are actively involved in the study for 3 months. The first visit lasts about an hour. During that time, the research team will stop by the family’s home, learn more about the family and the challenges the family members are facing, and have the family members who are interested in the study fill out a questionnaire.

Families who wish to participate in the study will also receive an iPAD to use during the study. An iPAD will be set up at the first visit, and each family will be trained how to use it. Families record videos that they can review and decide whether or not they wish to send to the research team. The videos are viewed by the team of Dementia Care Experts. Suggestions and ideas from the Dementia Care Experts are provided to families during weekly phone calls.

The total time a family will be participating in the study will be three months. In addition to the first visit, families will be asked to fill out questionnaires after one month in the study and at the three month time point at the end of the study. Each caregiver enrolled in the study will receive $75 each time the questionnaire is completed, for a total of $225.

Anyone who is currently caring for someone with dementia and is interested in learning more about participating in the study can contact Dr. Diane Blyler at diane-blyler@uiowa.edu or by calling the FamTechCare study at (319) 335-3488.