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A randomized controlled trial of a community-based dementia care coordination intervention: effects of MIND at Home on caregiver outcomes

Jeremy A. Tanner, B. Black, D. Johnston, E. Hess, J. Leoutsakos, L. Gitlin, P. Rabins, C. Lyketsos et al.

The American journal of geriatric psychiatry, 2014

72 citations

Abstract

Objectives To assess whether MIND at Home, a community-based, multicomponent, care coordination intervention, reduces unmet caregiving needs and burden in informal caregivers of persons with memory disorders. Design 18-month randomized controlled trial of 289 community-living care recipient (CR)/caregiver dyads. Setting 28 postal code areas of Baltimore, MD. Participants Informal caregivers (i.e., an unpaid individual who is regularly relied on by the CR for assistance). Intervention All dyads and the CR's primary care physician received the written needs assessment results and intervention recommendations. Intervention dyads then received an 18-month care coordination intervention delivered by non-clinical community-workers to address unmet care needs through individualized care planning; referral and linkage to dementia services; provision of caregiver dementia education and skill building strategies; and care progress monitoring by an interdisciplinary team. Measurements Primary outcome was total percent of unmet caregiver needs at 18 months. Secondary outcomes included objective and subjective caregiver burden measures, quality of life (QOL), and depression. Results Total percent of unmet caregiver needs declined in both groups from baseline to 18 months, but there was no statistically significant between-group difference. There were no significant group differences in most caregiver burden measures, depression, or QOL. There was a potentially clinically- relevant…

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