Optimizing Dementia Care

The counseling component incorporates elements of existing manualized interventions that have been tailored for this population and follow a cognitive behavioral therapy framework. Counseling sessions will be completed for 8-10 domains of potential distress (grief, hostility, sexual intimacy, etc.).

"Care Consultation (CC): is an established telephone-based, empowerment intervention that uses coaching and emotional support to mobilize family caregivers and individuals with dementia through psychoeducation, resource referral, psychosocial support, and encouragement of informal and formal service use utilization. A computerized clinical tool called the Care Consultation Information System (CCIS) guides the care consultant through a standardized delivery of protocol components. Rather than a strong focus on assessment, this intervention is designed to quickly identify areas of unmet need through brief trigger questions called the initial assessment, which then immediately shapes development of concrete action plans."