A Trial to Support Caregivers of Patients With Dementia in Italy: the UP-TECH Project

"The following support will be provided by a case manager:~At least 3 sessions of individual face-to-face counselling (housing arrangements, disease awareness, problem solving) consisting of an initial and two reinforcing sessions four and eight months after enrollment.~Monthly follow-up telephone calls. Stress management training of the family caregiver and some practical items for management of patient care in the home.~Information about services/aid/certification/subsidies offered by the National Health Service, by municipal social services and by local voluntary organizations. Information on health services, support connecting to GPs and health service units (medical specialists, hospital services) and social services (municipal offices and public offices of any capacity)."

The technologies to be employed are devices already widely used and marketed, are simple to use and do not require high technical expertise for installation and maintenance. The devices will be assigned to subjects in the UP-TECH treatment group after an evaluation of the home, made by the case manager. Such technologies include e.g.: access facilitated telephone, timed drug dispenser, and housing adaptations such as anti-slip strips; home leaving sensors; sensors to detect night falls; Gas and water leak sensors, and automatic lights.

An information package illustrating the range of social and health services available in local community will be created. It will be delivered to the caregiver during home visits by the nurse.

The dyads will receive three home visits by a specifically trained nurse. Home visits will occur at enrollment and after 6 and 12 months. Each visit will occur with the following steps: telephone contact between the nurse and the family caregiver, a home visit comprising the administration of the UP-TECH questionnaire, counselling/training of the caregiver regarding patient assistance, feeding, ergonomics of the home environment, covers practical aspects of patient assistance, such as daily management of drug treatment, ergonomics of the home environment, stress management and care burden. In order to provide this information to the caregiver, the nurses will receive a specific training course.