Dataset Information

Caregiver training: Evidence of its effectiveness for cognitive and functional improvement in older adults.

ABSTRACT:

Aims and objectives

The objectives of this study were to assess the benefits of a caregiver training programme on the cognitive and functional status of older adults, and to compare the effects of this programme according to type of caregiver (professional vs. family caregiver).

Background

Due to demographic changes that have resulted in an aging population, the role of caregiver of an older adult has become very important in recent years.

Design and methods

The sample was composed of 160 older adults: (a) 100 received care from caregivers who had taken the three-month training programme (treatment group), of which 60 were professional caregivers and 40 were family caregivers, and (b) 60 received care from caregivers who had not taken the programme (control group). In order to evaluate programme effects on cognitive and functional status, we used both direct measures answered by the older adults (MMSE, CAPE and EuroQol) and caregiver reports (Barthel and RMPBC). We used a quasi-experimental, pre-post design. We followed SQUIRE 2.0 guidelines for reporting.

Results

The results showed that older adults who were cared for by caregivers that had participated in the training programme showed gains in quality of life and cognitive ability and maintenance of functional ability. Within the treatment group, although everyone significantly improved their scores, the older adults cared for by family caregivers improved in more of the cognitive sub-items than did their peers in the professional caregiver group.

Conclusions

The data obtained show that a caregiver training programme based on cognitive stimulation produces cognitive, functional and health-related quality-of-life benefits in older adults. Furthermore, the caregivers reported increased satisfaction with their work.

Relevance to clinical practice

The improvements obtained in the older adults and in caregivers show the relevance of this type of intervention when working in the clinical field of caregiving.

SUBMITTER: Sanjuan M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10078788 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Caregiver training: Evidence of its effectiveness for cognitive and functional improvement in older adults.

Sanjuán Miriam M Navarro Elena E Calero María Dolores MD

Journal of clinical nursing 20220324 5-6

<h4>Aims and objectives</h4>The objectives of this study were to assess the benefits of a caregiver training programme on the cognitive and functional status of older adults, and to compare the effects of this programme according to type of caregiver (professional vs. family caregiver).<h4>Background</h4>Due to demographic changes that have resulted in an aging population, the role of caregiver of an older adult has become very important in recent years.<h4>Design and methods</h4>The sample was ...[more]

PMID: 35332605

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Project description:The number of older adults is increasing globally. Aging is associated with cognitive and sensory decline. Additionally, declined auditory performance and cognitive function affect the quality of life of older adults. Therefore, it is important to develop an intervention method to improve both auditory and cognitive performances. The current study aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of auditory and cognitive training on auditory ability and cognitive functions in healthy older adults. Fifty healthy older adults were randomly divided into four training groups-an auditory-cognitive training group (AC training; n = 13), an auditory training group (A training; n = 13), a cognitive training group (C training; n = 14), and an active control group (n = 12). During the training period, we reduced the sound intensity level in AC and A training groups and increase training task difficulty in AC, A, and C training groups based on participants' performance. Cognitive function measures [digit-cancelation test (D-CAT); logical memory (LM); digit span (DS)], auditory measures [pure-tone audiometry (PTA)], and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were performed before and after the training periods. We found three key findings. First, the AC training group showed difference between other training groups (A, C, and active control training groups) in regional gray matter volume (rGMV) in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the left inferior temporal gyrus (L. ITG), the left superior frontal gyrus, the left orbitofrontal cortex, the right cerebellum (lobule 7 Crus 1). Second, the auditory training factor groups (ATFGs, the AC and A training groups) improved auditory measures and increased the rGMV and functional connectivity (FC) in the left temporal pole compared to the non-ATFGs (the C training group and active control group). Third, the cognitive training factor groups (CTFGs; the AC and C training groups) showed statistically significant improvement in cognitive performances in LM and D-CAT compared to the non-CTFGs (the A training group and active control group). Therefore, the auditory training factor and cognitive training factor would be useful in enhancing the quality of life of older adults. The current AC training study, the plasticity of the brain structure was observed after 4 weeks of training.

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Dataset Information

Caregiver training: Evidence of its effectiveness for cognitive and functional improvement in older adults.

Aims and objectives

Background

Design and methods

Results

Conclusions

Relevance to clinical practice

Publications

Caregiver training: Evidence of its effectiveness for cognitive and functional improvement in older adults.

Similar Datasets

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