A Home-Based, Culturally and Language Specific Intervention for Dementia Family Caregivers Using Wearable Technology to Reduce Stress and Improve Caregiving

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a 3-month home visit program delivered by community health workers (CHWs) to support ethnic and underserved family caregivers of people with dementia (PWD). This study focuses on caregivers who often experience high stress, depression, poor sleep, and health challenges. The intervention combines stress reduction techniques, caregiving education, and wearable technology to monitor caregivers' health and wellbeing in real time, aiming to improve caregiver quality of life and reduce disparities in dementia care. The intervention includes six home visits over 12 weeks, with four visits in the first month and two monthly visits afterward. CHWs provide stress reduction training using mindful breathing and compassionate listening, along with education on dementia caregiving skills and available community resources. Caregivers wear a smartwatch and smart ring to track physiological data such as heart rate variability, activity, and sleep. The study compares three groups: those receiving the CHW home visit intervention with wearable devices, an attention control group using only wearable technology, and a usual care group receiving resource information. Participants will be involved in baseline, 3-month, and 6-month assessments, including surveys and physiological monitoring. Researchers will measure caregiver burden, depression, stress, sleep quality, self-efficacy, health-related quality of life, and perceived behavioral problems of the PWD. Monthly phone contacts and home visits support participants throughout the study. The total study duration for each participant is six months, with ongoing monitoring of caregiver health and wellbeing using wearable technology and questionnaires.

Dementia Family Caregiver Study