Field of Work: Testing an intervention for veterans with dementia and their family caregivers.
Problem Synopsis: Family caregivers of veterans with dementia face the demands and strains of caring for individuals with complex health care needs, multiple coexisting medical conditions and, often, other social, financial, or emotional problems.
Synopsis of the Work: The study compared the usual dementia-related health care services provided at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers with an intervention coordinated jointly by the VA and the Alzheimer's Association.
The five-year study, which enrolled 508 veterans and 486 family caregivers, assessed whether the intervention reduced the use and cost of health care services and improved psychosocial outcomes for veterans and their family caregivers. RWJF provided funding for the first two years of the study.