Savvy System Project

Developing a Distance Education System to Train Savvy Caregiver Program Interventionists: Extending Access and Capacity in Community-Based Delivery of Evidence-Based Interventions

The study goal is to develop a web-based system that uses distance education methods and provides manuals and protocols to train, certify, and monitor the performance of interventionists to deliver the Savvy Caregiver program (Savvy), an evidence-based dementia family caregiver psychoeducation program. The system has a potential to increase the scalability of Savvy.

The number of People Living With Disability (PLWD) in the U.S. will rise from 5.7 million to 14 million by 2050, and the number of family caregivers who maintain these persons in the community will rise proportionately from 15 million at present. Several psychoeducation programs, including Savvy, have successfully ameliorated the adverse effects of caregiving, but these programs are only minimally available and accessible.

The study goal is to develop a web-based system that uses distance education methods and provides manuals and protocols to train, certify, and monitor the performance of interventionists to deliver the Savvy Caregiver program (Savvy), an evidence-based dementia family caregiver psychoeducation program. The system has a potential to increase the scalability of Savvy.

Inclusion Criteria:

Organizational Leaders

1. Able to understand and speak English
2. Affiliated with an organization serving caregivers for family members living with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias
3. 18 years or older

Interventionists

1. Able to understand and speak English
2. Affiliated with a participating organization
3. 18 years or older

Caregivers

1. Able to understand and speak English
2. Caregiver for a person living with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias (PLWD) who is providing informal care for at least 3 hours a day. PLWD should not be bound for institutional care within the next 6 months.
3. 18 years or older