Telephone-delivered Mindfulness Intervention for African American Dementia Caregivers

Mindfulness interventions can decrease caregiver burden and improve coping skills, including decreased emotion-based coping, increased tolerance for uncertainty, improved psychological well-being and quality of life while potentially improving relationship quality and communication. This study utilizes a single-group, uncontrolled design to assess the feasibility and acceptability of telephone-delivered mindfulness training designed to alleviate caregiver burden for African-American rural caregivers of individuals with moderate to severe dementia, as defined by the caregiver. The telephone-delivered mindfulness intervention will improve geographical access for rural caregivers and deem more flexible for a caregiver's schedule. The study's intervention consists of mindfulness training delivered by telephone once weekly for 8 weeks. The intervention also includes one retreat for which respite care will be provided, if needed. The intervention, based on, Kabat-Zinn's mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), will emphasize the following: 1) mindful experiencing, including mindfulness of feelings and body sensations; 2) mindful communication, including non-verbal mindfulness, mindful listening, and mindful speaking; and 3) mindful compassion for self and others.