Cost Effectiveness of a Training Program for Dementia Carers

An intensive 10-day residential training program for dementia carers has previously been shown to be associated with increased patient survival at home and decreased psychological morbidity in carers (Brodaty & Gresham, 1989). Results from a further follow-up, about 39 months after entry into the trial, were even more impressive. Patients whose carers had trained in the program had much higher adjusted rates of survival at home (53% versus 13%) and, unexpectedly, fewer deaths (20% versus 41%) than those whose carers did not have training. Patients whose carers had delayed training achieved intermediate results (31% surviving at home and 21% dying). These results were achieved with an average saving of $A7,967 ($U.S.5975) per patient over the first 39 months.