Dementia Care Management in an Underserved Community: The Comparative Effectiveness of Two Different Approaches
Publication Date
2015
Journal Title
J Aging Health
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To compare the effectiveness and costs of telephone-only approach to in-person plus telephone for delivering an evidence-based, coordinated care management program for dementia. METHODS: We randomized 151 patient-caregiver dyads from an underserved predominantly Latino community to two arms that shared a care management protocol but implemented in different formats: in-person visits at home and/or in the community plus telephone and mail, versus telephone and mail only. We compared between-arm caregiver burden and care-recipient problem behaviors (primary outcomes) and patient-caregiver dyad retention, care quality, health care utilization, and costs (secondary outcomes) at 6- and 12-months follow-up. RESULTS: Care quality improved substantially over time in both arms. Caregiver burden, care-recipient problem behaviors, retention, and health care utilization did not differ across arms but the in-person program cost more to deliver. DISCUSSION: Dementia care quality improved regardless of how care management was delivered; large differences in effectiveness or cost offsets were not detected.
Volume Number
27
Issue Number
5
Pages
864-93
Document Type
Article
EPub Date
2015/02/07
Status
Faculty
Facility
School of Medicine
Primary Department
Emergency Medicine
PMID
DOI
10.1177/0898264315569454