Traumatic Brain Injury and Alzheimer's Disease/Related Dementias Caregiver Support Intervention

Designing and Evaluating a Comprehensive Support Program for Families Caring for Relatives Living With TBI-AD/ADRD

The TBI-AD/ADRD Caregiver Support Intervention (TACSI) incorporates psychosocial and psychoeducational approaches with the objective of: a) identifying stressors associated with caregiving for family members who have the dual diagnosis of traumatic brain injury and dementia; and b) supporting caregivers in developing more effective coping and communication strategies as well as enhanced caregiving self-efficacy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• the care recipient has a physician diagnosis of TBI and AD/ADRD (i.e., those with a diagnosis of both TBI and progressive cognitive decline)
• the caregiver self-identifies as someone who provides the most help/is most responsible for the person with TBI-AD/ADRD because of their cognitive impairments (or shares the role equally with another caregiver)
• the caregiver indicates a willingness to participate in the TACSI evaluation
• the caregiver is English speaking
• the caregiver is 21 years of age or older
• the caregiver is not currently participating in any other type of service that provides one-to-one psychosocial consultation or caregiver coaching (peer mentorship/support group participation/general counseling not specific to caregiving is not a deterrent to enrollment) at the discretion of the UMN research team
• the caregiver resides in the US.

Exclusion Criteria:

• caregivers who have a new or worsening mental health condition and are not receiving ongoing treatment. When applicable, if caregivers have not remained on a stable psychotropic medications dosage, such as antidepressants, anxiolytics or anti-psychotics, for the prior three months they will be excluded.