01 Jul
16:00

PhD conferral mw. Lizzy M.M. Boots, MSc

Promotores: prof.dr. F.R.J. Verhey; prof.dr. G.I.J.M. Kempen
Co-promotor: dr. M.E. de Vugt

"Balanced and prepared; development and evaluation of a supportive e-health intervention for caregivers of people with early-stage dementia"

Keywords: dementia, caregivers, e-health

This research focused on developing and evaluating the ‘Partner in Balance’ e-health course for family members of people with early-stage dementia. The course combines knowledge derived from the literature with the experiences of caregivers and dementia-care professionals. After taking the ‘Partner in Balance’ course, caregivers displayed a higher degree of self-confidence, a greater sense of being in control and a higher quality of life relative to a control group. A low-threshold e-health course was thus shown to have a positive effect on caregivers during the early stages of dementia. Care professionals can use the course to prepare family members for their caregiver role when they are faced with a diagnosis of early-stage dementia. The research also provides insight into the specific needs and wishes of caregivers, which may help care professionals and policymakers, adapt healthcare services to this particular group. In the face of an ageing population, the e-health course can ensure that caregivers continue to receive the support they need, despite the declining number of professionals.

This research was co-funded by Alzheimer Netherlands and the Limburg Alzheimer Research Fund.