Effects of communication program on communication skills and relationships between caregivers and older adults with dementia
Keywords:
Communication programs, Communication skills, Relationships, Caregivers, Older adults with dementiaAbstract
Effective communication between caregivers and older adults with dementia within families is crucial for providing quality dementia care. This quasi-experimental study with a two-group pretest-posttest design aimed to examine the effects of a communication program on communication skills and relationships between caregivers and older adults with dementia. The sample consisted of 52 caregivers of older adults with dementia, randomly assigned into an experimental group and a control group, with 26 participants in each. The intervention tool was a communication program comprising: 1) education sessions on dementia and communication techniques, and 2) home visits and counseling support. Data were collected using a communication skills assessment and a relationship assessment tool, with Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficients of .90 and .91, respectively. Data analysis involved paired t-tests to compare pre- and post-intervention scores within groups, and independent t-tests to compare differences between the experimental and control groups. The results revealed that, after the intervention, caregivers in the experimental group had significantly higher communication skills and relationship scores than before the intervention and compared to the control group (p<0.01). These findings suggest that enhancing caregivers’ communication skills with older adults with dementia can foster better family relationships and improve dementia care.
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