Effects of a Telephone-Based Exercise Intervention for Dementia Caregiving Wives

Abstract

Despite the importance of self-care for dementia caregivers, few interventions have included a focus on health behaviors. This study reports outcomes of a telephone-based exercise intervention designed for women caring for a spouse with dementia. Caregivers (N = 137) were randomized to intervention or control conditions. Participants with at- or below-median exercise scores at baseline had a significantly greater increase in exercise at 6-month follow-up compared with their control counterparts. At 6 months, participants had greater reductions in perceived stress relative to controls. Participants also reported significantly greater increases in exercise self-efficacy than caregivers in the control group at both follow-up points. Results indicate that spouse caregivers are able to increase their physical activity and that a focus on exercise in multicomponent interventions may be beneficial. Debate and discussion are needed to inform expectations for program effects and their maintenance and to explore the interface between enhanced self-care and caregiving perceptions.