Dementia Family Caregiver Study

The on-site intervention will focus on stress reduction techniques and caregiving skills education for 4 weeks and two monthly caregiver-driven topics for the following two sessions. The education of dementia caregiving skills will include (1) understanding about Alzheimer's and dementias, (2) appropriate communication skills with PWD, (3) daily activities for or with PWD together (e.g., puzzles, writing, reading, singing, taking a walk, etc), and (4) care resources including support groups, adult day centers, or other dementia related social services (legal and financial matters). For stress reduction techniques to be effective, the investigators have installed an app on the smartwatch to remind them to practice mindful breathing exercises two times a day and when needed.

The caregivers randomly assigned to the AC group will be asked to wear the smartwatch during the day time and the smartring during the night for 3 months in order to monitor their physiological measures (heart rate variability, heart rate, activities, and sleep quality). CHW will give AC participants an overview of WIOT instruction at the baseline home visit. Caregivers will also receive resource information regarding Alzheimer's association and local social service information. CHWs will contact them monthly via phone for 6 months answering general questions from participants. CHW will visit participants' home at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months to administer survey assessments.

The caregivers randomly assigned to UC group will receive resource information regarding Alzheimer's association and local social service information at the baseline home visit by CHW. CHWs will contact them monthly for 6 months by phone asking general questions from participants. CHWs will visit participants' home at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months to administer survey assessments.