CARE GIVER SPOUSES OF PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA WHO ENGAGE WITH AN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TOOLKIT - Intervention Outcomes

Q: What intervention was tested for spousal caregivers of people with dementia?

The study offered a low-touch emergency preparedness toolkit (EPT) to help spousal caregivers prepare for their own unexpected hospitalization and healthcare emergency.

Q: How many caregivers were invited and how many requested the toolkit?

In January 2023, 1,062 cohabiting, non-institutionalized caregivers were invited to request the EPT; 489 (46%) requested it.

Q: What were the key 6-month outcome findings for caregivers?

At 6 months after the EPT was sent, there were no significant differences between requester and non-requester groups in ED visits or hospitalizations, though non-requesters had higher deaths.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Grenda

Spousal caregivers of people with dementia face hospitalization risks that can disrupt caregiving and harm caregiver health. This low-touch study tested an emergency preparedness toolkit (EPT) intervention, inviting 1,062 cohabiting, non-institutionalized caregivers to request and use the EPT to prepare for an unexpected healthcare emergency. Of notified caregivers, 489 (46%) requested the EPT. Among requesters, baseline health severity was higher, yet no significant 6-month differences were observed in ED visits or hospitalizations between groups. Results suggest tailoring outreach to caregiver health needs and further study of caregiver health and uptake of support is needed.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Study Overview

Intervention Design

Participant Eligibility and Recruitment

Caregiver Request Patterns

6-Month Outcomes and Interpretation

Implications for Tailored Outreach and Further Research

1030 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 the EPT n = 573(54%) were more likely to be male [261(46%) vs 188(38%);p=.02], have higher Elixhauser comorbidity scores (3.0±2.6 vs 2.5±1.9, p<.01), have more ED visits[132(23%) vs 88(18%)p=.04], and hospitalizations [77(13%) vs. 34(7%);p = <.01] in the prior 12 months compared to caregivers who requested the EPT. Caregiver outcomes by EPT request were measured 6-month after the EPT was sent. Caregivers who didn’t request the EPT were no different in number of hospitalizations [52(9% vs 34(7%), p=.2] than those who did; however, they hada higher number of deaths [13(2%) vs 2(.4%), p=.01] at 6 months. For the caregiver, there were no significant differences in outcomes such as ED visits/hospitalizations between the two groups. Findings indicate that the health severity of caregivers of PWD was associated with the caregiver’s response to a supportive intervention. Outreach and engagement to caregivers may need to be tailored to a range of caregiver health conditions and severity to be successful. Health of caregivers and their uptake of support and resources warrants further study. Abstract citation ID: igaf122.3471 CAREGIVER SPOUSES OF PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA WHO ENGAGE WITH AN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TOOLKIT INTERVENTION Anna Satake1, Rebecca Boxer1, Andrea Daddato2, Kris Wain2, Blythe Dollar2, and James Lagrotteria2, 1. University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States, 2. Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, United States Hospitalizations of a spousal caregiver (SC) of a person with dementia (PWD) can significantly disrupt caregiving and negatively impact the SC. This study conducted a low-touch intervention by offering a SC an emergency preparedness toolkit (EPT) to prepare for their own unexpected hospitalization. In January 2023, 1,062 caregivers of PWD who live together and are not institutionalized were invited to request the EPT and use it to prepare for their own healthcare emergency. Of caregivers notified, 489(46%) requested the EPT. Caregivers who didn’t request

FAQs

What intervention was tested for spousal caregivers of people with dementia?

The study offered a low-touch emergency preparedness toolkit (EPT) to help spousal caregivers prepare for their own unexpected hospitalization and healthcare emergency.

How many caregivers were invited and how many requested the toolkit?

In January 2023, 1,062 cohabiting, non-institutionalized caregivers were invited to request the EPT; 489 (46%) requested it.

What were the key 6-month outcome findings for caregivers?

At 6 months after the EPT was sent, there were no significant differences between requester and non-requester groups in ED visits or hospitalizations, though non-requesters had higher deaths.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Grenda