Testing an Intervention to Improve Post-hospital Outcomes in Persons Living with Dementia and Their Family Care Partners

Abstract Background and Objective Hospitalized persons living with dementia are at risk for functional decline, behavioral symptoms of distress, delirium, all persisting in the post-acute period. In turn, family care partners (FCPs) experience increased anxiety lack preparedness caregiving, compounding existing strain burden. Family-centered Function-focused Care (Fam-FFC) purposefully engages FCPs assessment, decision-making, delivery, evaluation function-focused during after hospitalization (within 48 hours discharge, weekly telephone calls a total 7 additional weeks, then monthly 4 months). The objective this study was to test efficacy Fam-FFC. Research Design Methods A cluster randomized controlled trial included 455 dyads six medical units three hospitals. Patient outcomes return baseline physical function, depressive symptoms, delirium severity. FCP measures anxiety, strain, Results Multilevel level modeling demonstrated that likelihood returning function across time Fam-FFC participants twice control group by end 6 months (OR = 2.4, p =0.01, 95% CI 1.2-4.7). also associated fewer distress (b -1.1, SE 0.56, 0.05) but no differences amount moderate activity, Preparedness caregiving significantly only from 2 (b=0.89, SE=0.45, d=0.21, overall =0.02) intervention group, Discussion Implications may help prevent some decline hospitalized dementia. Further research is needed promote sustained improvements these more attention needs partner.