JMIR Publications

Background:

Family caregivers of people with dementia are critical to the quality of life of care recipients and the sustainability of health care systems but face an increased risk of emotional distress and negative physical and mental health outcomes.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to examine the usability, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a technology-based and caregiver-delivered peer support program, the Caregiver Remote Education and Support (CARES) smartphone or tablet app.

Methods:

A total of 9 adult family caregivers of people with dementia received the CARES intervention, and 3 former family caregivers of people with dementia were trained to deliver it. Quantitative data were collected at baseline and at the end of the 2-week field usability study. Qualitative data were also collected at the end of the 2-week field usability study.

Results:

The field usability study demonstrated that a 2-week peer-delivered and technology-supported mental health intervention designed to improve burden, stress, and strain levels was experienced by former and current family caregivers of people with dementia as acceptable. Current family caregivers rated CARES as above average in usability, whereas the caregiver peer supporters rated CARES as marginally usable. CARES was associated with non–statistically significant improvements in burden, stress, and strain levels.

Conclusions:

This field usability study demonstrated that it is possible to train former family caregivers of people with dementia to use technology to deliver a mental health intervention to current family caregivers of people with dementia. Future studies would benefit from a longer trial; a larger sample size; a randomized controlled design; and a control of covariables such as stages of dementia, years providing care, and severity of dementia symptoms.