Hear–Communicate–Remember: Feasibility of delivering an integrated intervention for family caregivers of people with dementia and hearing impairment via telehealth

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate the feasibility of Hear–Communicate–Remember, a training programme developed for family caregivers of people with dementia and hearing impairment that integrated hearing, communication and memory strategies, which was intended to be delivered via telehealth. Materials and methods Participants included six dyads consisting of adults with dementia and hearing impairment and their family caregivers. Data collection involved a combination of semi-structured interviews, self-report questionnaires and field notes. Results Analysis of the qualitative interviews revealed four themes: appropriateness of intervention resources, considerations for the delivery of intervention via telehealth, knowledge and application of intervention strategies, and impact of the intervention on day-to-day life. Results from the satisfaction survey indicated that caregiver participants were mostly satisfied with all aspects of the intervention except the use of some technological components. The field notes described challenges with implementation via telehealth. Conclusions Future research involving a cohort comparison study with a larger cohort of dyads is needed to establish treatment efficacy.