Caregivers of family members with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD) experience high rates of psychological stress, physical impairments, and often, disruptions in normal daily activities. Caregivers must be alert both at night and during the day, and often on an inconsistent schedule. As a result, caregivers are less likely to sleep, exercise, and be socially active on a regular schedule. Disruptions of these biological and behavioral time cues, or zeitgebers, in turn decrease the stability of the body's biological clock, placing caregivers at high risk for adverse health outcomes related to an out-of-sync biological clock (e.g. diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and depression, among others). Caregivers of individuals with ADRD experience worse health outcomes compared with other types of caregivers, likely due to more heavily or frequently disrupted schedules.~For this research study, 25 individuals aged 50 and older who are providing care for a family member with mild-to-moderate dementia. Data from 5 participants will be used for the development of an intervention manual (NIH Stage Model IA). A small pilot study will be conducted (NIH Stage Model IB) in which 20 participants will be randomly assigned to 6 weeks of the caregiver intervention or enhanced usual care arm. Objective actigraphic measures of the 24-hour pattern of sleep and daytime activity - known as the rest-activity rhythm (RAR) - will be measured for 7 days at the start and end of the assigned intervention procedures to evaluate circadian rhythms as a potential intervention target/mechanism of action. The investigators will measure the regularity, timing, and amplitude of behavioral patterns over a 24-hour period. Participants will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-months post-intervention.
The Self-Care for Dementia Caregivers research study is a pilot randomized control trial (RCT) to develop and evaluate the feasibility of a behavioral intervention that uses technology and motivational health coaching to optimize caregivers' sleep, exercise, and social activities. Caregivers of family members with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and AD-related dementias often experience disruptions of their biological or behavioral time cues, placing them at higher risk for adverse health outcomes. The investigators hypothesize that targeting the stability of sleep, exercise, and social activities will improve stability of the biological clock, improve caregiver health and wellbeing, and improve their ability to provide care.