An educational intervention to support caregivers of elders with dementia.

The majority of home-dwelling elders with dementia are cared for by family members or friends. Interventions to support community-based caregivers are needed. A community-based seminar series was provided to 300 self-referred family caregivers with dementia. Participants were surveyed for caregiver burden and overload and perceived competence before and 6 months after the seminars. In all, 88 (29%) of participants completed a 6-month survey. Self-perceived caregiver competence improved (3.9 +/- 1.6 to 5.0 +/- 0.32, P < .006); a trend toward improvement in caregiver overload, and there was no change in caregiver burden. Caregivers with baseline parameters indicative of higher burden, overload, or lower competence showed improved scores at 6 months. The educational program was effective in improving competence and may have slowed the expected increase in burden associated with caring for those with a progressive dementia. Caregivers with higher burden may be targeted for this type of intervention, as they seemed to benefit the most.