Support groups for caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease: Implications for practice and research

Abstract

An integrative review was conducted on the use of support groups for caregivers of and persons with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The research review was limited to published experimental or quasi-experimental studies. The studies reviewed varied according to study design, group membership, type of intervention used, duration of support group, outcome measures employed, and results. Parallels drawn from the above-mentioned areas were variable among the studies. There were no replication of studies with favorable results. Strengths and limitations were discussed. Further research on the effect of support group interventions with caregivers and persons with progressive dementia is warranted. First, there is a need to evaluate the effect of the support group intervention on specific populations such as persons with all stages of the disease process and minority caregivers. Second, there is a need for longitudinal studies with measurement tools appropriate for the intervention. Caregivers and persons with Alzheimer's disease support groups are a rich area for future intervention and outcome studiesfor health care professionals.