Los Angeles County is home to upwards of 30,000 family caregivers or care partners of older adults who need help with their daily living. One of the largest group of family care partners are those who care for someone with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological diseases that cause significant changes in memory, behavior, judgement, and personality. Although “caregiving” can be meaningful and a source of satisfaction for many families, care partners can also experience worry, frustration, sadness, and isolation in their caregiving role. Moreover, many care partners have limited knowledge of the diseases that cause dementia, and lack information on care strategies and services available to help their family member with memory loss.
A recent research project tested a psychoeducational, skill-building intervention called Savvy Express that was adapted from the evidenced-based Savvy Caregiver Program. The overall purpose of Savvy Express is to increase care partners’ physical and psychological wellbeing, knowledge about dementia and where to go to for help.
Savvy Express is comprised of 3 weekly group classes led by trained facilitators from Alzheimer’s Greater Los Angeles. Classes were free and located at community agencies or health clinics in Los Angeles County.
The research team was led by principal investigator María Aranda, the executive director of USC Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging.
Funding was provided by the California Community Foundation, the Archstone Foundation, and the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work.