Abstract:
Introduction: We investigated the effectiveness of the multicomponent learning, innovation, volunteer support, empowerment (LIVE) intervention on caregiver burden and care time in dyads of home-dwelling people with dementia and caregivers.

Method: A 24 month, multicenter, stepped-wedge trial, randomized dyads to receive the 6-month LIVE intervention by municipal coordinators (May 2019 to December 2021). Primary outcomes were caregiver burden assessed by Relative Stress Scale (RSS) and informal care time spent on personal activities assessed by Resource Utilization in Dementia Personal Activities of Daily Living (RUD-PADL). Analyses used an intention-to-treat.

Results: Two hundred eighty dyads were enrolled. Caregivers during the intervention period reported lower levels of RSS of 0.7 points (standard deviation [SD]: 0.8) compared to the caregivers in the control period. Caregivers during the intervention period reported more time spent on PADL of 11.7 hours/month (SD: 8.7) compared to caregivers during the control period; both were not statistically significant (P > 0.05).

Discussion: The LIVE intervention did not reduce caregiver burden or care time.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04043364.

Highlights: Two hundred eighty persons with dementia and caregivers were included in a stepped wedge randomized controlled trial. We used the learning, innovation, volunteer support, empowerment (LIVE) intervention. The LIVE intervention did not reduce caregiver burden or informal care time. The LIVE intervention improved the caregiver’s clinical global impression of change. Positive change was most pronounced for coordinator personalized support.

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