Caregiver Preparedness: A Therapeutic Mechanism and Moderating Factor on Outcomes for the Savvy Caregiver Program.

Objectives: Evidence-based interventions for dementia caregivers, such as the Savvy Caregiver Program (SC), seek to address skills and knowledge deficits, caregiver burden, depressive symptoms, and grief. Little research has examined mechanisms by which these interventions accomplish their goals. Caregiver preparedness may be a possible mechanism by which caregiver interventions may confer benefits.

Methods: The sample included 76 dementia caregivers who completed the 6-session SC. Participants completed the Anticipatory Grief Scale, Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale, the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale, and the Zarit Burden Interview-Short Form.

Results: A repeated measures ANOVA was utilized to determine the interaction between baseline scores and pre-post change in caregiver preparedness. Analysis significantly predicted caregiver burden, (F₍₁₎ = 6.68, p=.012, partial η²=.10), depressive symptom endorsement, (F₍₁₎ = 6.41, p=.014, partial η²=.09, and anticipatory grief, (F₍₁₎ = 6.22, p=.02, partial η²=.1), post-treatment.

Conclusions: Pre-post change in caregiver preparedness significantly predicted pre-post change across measures of caregiver burden, depressive symptom endorsement, and anticipatory grief. Findings suggest that caregiver preparedness may be one mechanism by which the SC confers positive outcomes. These findings provide an empirical and theoretical basis for tailoring future dementia caregiver interventions.

Clinical implications: Clinical Interventions may seek to improve caregiver preparedness and subsequent outcomes through utilization of programs like SC.