The effect of planned education and follow-UP for caregivers on care outcomes of the moderate stage alzheimer's patients and caregivers

The aim of this quasi-experimental study is to evaluate the effect of planned education and follow-up given to caregivers on care outcomes of the moderate stage Alzheimer's patients and caregivers. The study was carried out in Hacettepe University Adult Hospital Geriatrics Department between 01 August 2018 and 30 March 2020. The study sample consisted of 43 caregivers (21 in the intervention group, 22 in the control group), and the caregivers assigned the groups according to the admission to outpatient clinic. The study was completed in 12 weeks. The education was given to the caregivers in the intervention group in the 2nd and the 4th week. Eight weeks after completing the training constitutes the follow-up period. Caregivers in the control group did not undergo any intervention other than their routine controls. The education was applied to the caregivers in the control group at the end of the study, and an educational booklet was given. Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale, Bakas Caregiver Impact Scale, Neuropsychiatric Inventory, and Collaboration Study in Alzheimer's Disease – Activities of Daily Living scales were used for data collection. Data were collected both 1st, 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks. As a result of the study, it was determined that planned education and follow-up prepared for caregivers of the moderate stage Alzheimer's patients did not reduce caregiver burden. In the study, it was determined that the neuropsychiatric symptoms observed in the patient, and the distress experienced by the caregivers due to these symptoms were reduced. But the decline of neuropsychiatric symptoms observed in the patient and the caregivers' distress was not statistically significant. There was an increase in the level of dependence in the activities of daily living of the patients in the the both groups. It is recommended that education programs for caregivers of Alzheimer's patients should be implemented as a part of long-term health care services from the moment of diagnosis. Home care services should be developed to ensure the follow-up of patients at home.