The Memory Club: Providing Support to Persons with Early-Stage Dementia and Their Care Partners

• Published in: American journal of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias Vol. 26; no. 3; pp. 218 - 226
• Main Authors: Gaugler, Joseph E., Gallagher-Winker, Karen, Kehrberg, Kathy, Lunde, Angela M., Marsolek, Connie M., Ringham, Kathryn, Thompson, Gerise, Barclay, Michelle
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.05.2011
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Aged; Caregivers - psychology; Cost of Illness; Current Topics in Research; Delivery of Health Care; Dementia - diagnosis; Dementia - psychology; Dementia - therapy; Depressive Disorder - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder - psychology; Depressive Disorder - therapy; Home Nursing - psychology; Humans; Memory Disorders - diagnosis; Memory Disorders - psychology; Memory Disorders - therapy; Minnesota; Needs Assessment; Self Efficacy; Self-Help Groups; Stress, Psychological - complications; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Treatment Outcome; Minnesota; cognitive impairment; support group; Alzheimer’s disease; caregiving; caregiver intervention; early stage
• ISSN: 1533-3175; 1938-2731
• DOI: 10.1177/1533317511399570

There is a growing emphasis on delivering services for persons with early-stage dementia (ie, ‘‘persons with memory loss,’’ or PWMLs) and their family members (care partners). The goal of this evaluation was to determine whether participation in the Memory Club, a 10- to 13-session joint support group, would result in decreased distress, enhanced preparation for care, and improved feelings of confidence managing the challenges of early-stage dementia. The single group, pre-/post-test evaluation included 63 PWMLs and 61 care partners who participated in three Memory Club sites in Minnesota. Paired T-test results found that care partners reported significant (P < .05) increases in preparation activities, feelings of preparation, and confidence in managing memory loss. The results suggest that the Memory Club can fill an important gap in early-stage dementia care by offering care partners the opportunity to plan, prepare, and increase coping skills in the face of early dementia progression.