[Communication training for family caregivers of dementia patients].

The program Kommunikations-TAnDem was developed with the primary purpose of increasing the communication competence of family caregivers of dementia patients. Further aims were to reduce the burden of family caregivers and to increase the quality of life of dementia patients. The effectiveness of the Kommunikations-TAnDem was tested in a controlled training study with 22 participants using a waiting-group control design and process measurement. The results of the study verify effects for the variables "Communication competence", "Caregivers knowledge about communication in dementia", "Quality of life of dementia patients" and "Directly perceived burden of family caregivers. Therefore it can be concluded that the Kommunikations-TAnDem is a method of indirectly supporting dementia patients by training the family caregivers. The results of research in this program underline very clearly the relevance of the inclusion of the family caregivers in intervention programs and the importance of communication competence for the well-being of dementia patients and their caregivers.