In-Home Interventions for Persons with Alzheimer's Disease and Their Caregivers

Abstract

A multi-disciplinary pilot research project assessed the needs of persons with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers in the home, identified target areas for intervention, and implemented specific caregiver-selected interventions. An evaluation of the pilot project indicated that a majority of the interventions that caregivers considered initially effective still worked approximately seven to nine months later. This relative stability of initially-effective interventions continued for many caregivers despite progressive declines in the functioning of the persons with Alzheimer's. The results also suggest the importance of enhancing the effectiveness of interventions when first introduced.