2022 Alzheimer's Association Research Fellowship (AARF)

Adaptation of an Intervention for Caregivers of Native Hawaiians with ADRD

Can a culturally appropriate telehealth intervention improve the lives of family caregivers of Native Hawaiians with Alzheimer’s?
 

Alexandra Malia Jackson, Ph.D.
Washington State University
Pullman, WA - United States

Background

Studies suggest that dementia can present several challenges for caregivers, often impacting their own physical and emotional health. Caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s frequently report experiencing high levels of stress, increased depression and anxiety, and new or exacerbated health problems. 

Researchers are trying to develop interventions to improve the quality of life for family caregivers. However, there is a critical need to culturally adapt interventions to better address the unique experiences of diverse family caregivers, including Native Hawaiians. Although research about Alzheimer’s in Native Hawaiians is scarce, family caregiving is likely common due to factors such as the ubiquity of intergenerational households and cultural expectations (kuleana or responsibility).  

The Tele-Savvy Caregiver Program is an online adaptation of the Savvy Caregiver Program and was developed to reduce barriers to attending in-person programs and align with telehealth use trends. Both the Savvy Caregiver Program and Tele-Savvy Caregiver Program demonstrate efficacy in reducing caregiver burden, depression, and anxiety, and in increasing caregiver mastery. However, Tele-Savvy has not been culturally adapted to be delivered for caregivers of Native Hawaiians with Alzheimer’s.

Research Plan

Dr. Alexandra Jackson and colleagues will culturally adapt and pilot test the Tele-Savvy Caregiver Program intervention with family caregivers of Native Hawaiians with Alzheimer’s. First, the researchers will conduct focus groups with 30 family caregivers living in the Pacific Northwest who have provided care to a Native Hawaiian adult with Alzheimer’s within the past five years. The focus groups will investigate cultural values related to caregiving, review the Tele-Savvy curriculum, and identify ways to include Hawaiian values in the intervention. Once the Tele-Savvy Caregiver Program has been adapted, the research team will evaluate caregiver engagement with the intervention and assess its effectiveness on caregiver stress, depression, anxiety, self-rated health, and quality of life for caregivers of Native Hawaiians with Alzheimer’s.

Impact

This project, if successful, will result in a culturally appropriate, scalable, evidence-based online intervention to reach Native Hawaiians caring for family members with Alzheimer’s. Such an intervention may support high engagement and improve outcomes in caregivers of Native Hawaiians with Alzheimer’s.