A new study from George Mason University has found that an Online Stress Program can significantly reduce the burden on family members caring for loved ones with dementia.
Published in the Journal of Applied Gerontology, the research showed that a nine-week virtual intervention program lowered caregiver burden scores by 15% among 97 participants.
The Growing Challenge of Dementia Care
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 80% of people living with dementia rely on informal care from family or friends. This equates to about 16 million caregivers in the U.S., many of whom experience high levels of stress, emotional exhaustion, and financial strain.
Catherine Tompkins, principal investigator and professor of social work at George Mason, highlighted the connection between caregiver burden and dementia severity in care recipients.
“These findings show that an online Zoom intervention in a peer group setting can be beneficial for caregivers of older adults with mild, moderate, or severe dementia,” Tompkins said.
A Virtual Solution for Caregiver Stress: Online Stress Program
The Stress-Busting Program for Family Caregivers™ was developed to help caregivers manage the psychological and physical strain of looking after a loved one with dementia or a chronic illness. The program provided education, coping strategies, and peer-to-peer support in a virtual setting.
Some of the key self-care techniques taught in the program included:
- Breathing exercises and meditation to reduce stress
- Strategies for handling challenging dementia-related behaviors
- Connecting with other caregivers in a supportive group environment
By offering this intervention online, researchers ensured that caregivers—many with limited time and resources—could participate from home without additional logistical challenges.
Meaningful Impact on Caregiver Well-Being
The study, co-authored by George Mason professors Gilbert Gimm, Megumi Inoue, Emily Ihara, and Mason CARES project manager Shannon Layman, demonstrated that virtual stress management programs can effectively support family caregivers.
“Reducing caregiver burden and managing stress is critical to the well-being of families,” said Gimm, associate professor of health administration and policy. “These findings show that effective stress management interventions for caregivers can be facilitated through online peer groups.”
Reference: McAtee RE, Spradley L, Tobey L, Thomasson W, Azhar G, Mercado C. Caregiver Burden: Caregiving Workshops Have a Positive Impact on Those Caring for Individuals With Dementia in Arkansas. Journal of Patient Experience, 2021.
