Table 3.

Description of the iCare protocol

Topic Headings	Brief Content Description
1. About dementia	Overview of Alzheimer’s Disease and related demenitas  Basic facts and stages of dementia  Course of illness and caregiving
2. Module 1. Dealing with stress	Strategies for dealing with stress  Thoughts about stress  Stress signals  Challenging and replacing unhelpful thoughts  Tips on challenging negative thoughts  Using my thought record
3. Module 2 Learning how to relax	Rationale for using relaxation  Types of relaxation techniques and discovering what works for you
4. Module 3 Pleasant Activities	Pleasant Activities for you and your loved one  How do I do a pleasant activity? The pleasant activity plan  Carrying out the plan and noting the effect  Developing a pleasant activities plan for my loved one and me.
5. Module 4 Learning new communication skills	Aggression to submission; the communication continuum  Practical tips you can use in talking to your  loved one, your doctor, a family member about caregiving issues
6. Module 5 Managing difficult behaviors	Breaking down the problem: Trigger -Behavior - Response (TBR)  Understanding and handling the problem using the TBR model  How does this work with someone who has dementia  Specific tips for different behaviors
7. Module 6 Healthy habits	What stressful times do to healthy habits  Learning to monitor health behaviors  Eating right, being active  Charting a plan and learning how to follow it
8. Planning for the future	Anticipating the hurdles and developing a plan.  Identifying national, state and local resources and how to use them