Steven Zarit, distinguished professor and head of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, recently presented at a symposium on dementia and caregiving in Dublin, Ireland. The event, held in May, was organized by the Dementia Services Information and Development Centre (DSIDC) involving St James’s Hospital and Trinity College Dublin.
Titled “Caregiving at a Crossroads: Bridging the Gap between Science and Practice,” his presentation examined treatment techniques shown to be effective in helping family caregivers cope with the daily stress of providing care to a relative with dementia. He drew on scientific studies and empirical evidence to demonstrate the type of outcomes, which could be derived from such person-centered interventions. Key questions, which were addressed, included: What interventions best help family caregivers to lower the stress of dementia care? Does using day care lead to improvements in emotion and can using this service have any physiological benefits? How can we provide people involved in dementia care with the help they need?