The Black Immigrant Project

Exploring an Adapted Active Caregiving: Empowering Skills (ACES) Intervention for High-Risk Care Partners

This stage I trial will examine if the culturally adapted ACES intervention affects cognitive appraisal (self-efficacy and dysfunctional thoughts) and behavioral activation with Black immigrant living with dementia and their care partners over a 1-month and 3-month period.

The proposed study has two major aims. First, the goal is to determine the feasibility of implementing the adapted ACES intervention with Black immigrant families. It uses an explanatory mixed-methods study, including quantitative data collected using a pre-posttest design, and in-depth qualitative interviews with participants following the post-test to understand their experiences with the newly adapted intervention.

Secondly, an extended version of the study will test the potential mechanisms of action in the adapted ACES intervention with Black immigrant caregivers. Specifically, it will examine whether cognitive appraisal and behavioral activation are mechanisms of action that influence the effects of the adapted intervention on care partner outcomes.

Person with dementia:

Inclusion Criteria:

• Family or self-identified report of dementia/memory loss,
• Score <3 on the Six-item Screener.
• Age 50 or older.
• Ability to communicate in English.
• Identify as a Black immigrant.
• Ability to give verbal assent.

Exclusion Criteria

• Under age 50.
• Not a Black immigrant.
• Cannot communicate in English.
• Unable to give verbal assent.

Caregiver:

Inclusion criteria:

• Black immigrant care partner of persons with AD/ADRD.
• Age 18 or older.
• Ability to communicate in English.
• Identify as a first/second-generation Black immigrant.
• Have had at least 6 months of caregiving (any help or assistance provided to a relative related to dementia/memory loss).

Exclusion Criteria

• Under age 18.
• Not first/second generation Black immigrant.
• Cannot communicate in English.
• Has less than 6 months of caregiving to a relative with dementia/memory loss.