Caregiving While Black: Optimizing Outcomes for Black Dementia Caregivers
Emory University
Summary
The goal of this project is to revise and test an online education program designed to enhance the mastery of Black American caregivers to provide care to family members or friends living with a dementia illness. This study has two phases, and participants will take part in Phase 1 and/or Phase 2 of this study. Participants will take part in one and/or both phases in this study if they are a caregiver to a person living with dementia. Caregivers must self-identify as Black American and as the unpaid principal caregiver of a community-dwelling person living with a dementia illness and who is the principal companion of that person during healthcare encounters. Caregivers must also be 18 years of age or older and will be providing at least some hands-on care multiple times a week, if not daily. It is preferred that participants have access to and the ability to use broadband internet services to engage with the Caregiving While Black course. Participants should not have a plan in place to move the person living with a dementia illness to an institutional setting within the next six months.
Description
Racial disparities and inequities substantially affect the situation Black dementia caregivers face and must understand, their self-assessed competence in handling the situation, and the coping strategies they deploy within it, all of which can contribute to - or lessen - emotional distress. The goal of this project is to establish the efficacy of the Caregiving while Black CWB) course which seeks to equip and empower Black dementia caregivers with the knowledge, skills, and sense of mastery they need to address and cope effectively within their role broadly, not just in the context of the pan…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Caregiver Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years or older * family member (or friend) who self-identifies as Black American and as the principal caregiver of a community-dwelling person living with dementia (PLWD), (not in hospice care) and who is the principal companion of that person during healthcare encounters; * provides some hands-on care multiple times a week; * has access to an electronic device and/or access to broadband internet; and * able to speak and understand English. * Caregivers are not required to be co-located with the care recipient. Exclusion Criteria: * Those who cannot provid…
Interventions
- OtherUsual Care
Caregivers assigned to the usual care group will be enrolled in the course at the 3-month mark after consenting. All caregivers will then participate in quantitative interviews at post- 6months of their baseline
- OtherCaring While Black
Caregivers assigned to this group will receive a schedule for their completion of the course over the next 2 months and supplemental course materials through the mail. The Canvas platform will enable the course to monitor everyone's movement in the cohort through the asynchronous part of the course. Nudges and reminders will be sent twice a week via text or email with the participant's consent.
Location
- Emory UniversityAtlanta, Georgia