Abstract
COPE-CT, a translational study using pragmatic trial approach elements, tests the effectiveness of implementing the evidence-based Care of Persons with Dementia in their Environments (COPE) intervention into Connecticut’s Medicaid and state-funded homecare waiver program for elders. COPE aims to optimize function in persons with dementia by teaching family caregivers problem-solving skills for managing dementia-related symptoms and their own stress, and by assessing persons with dementia for underlying medical conditions affecting function and behavior. In COPE-CT, persons with dementia age >65 and family caregivers (dyads) were randomly assigned to receive or not receive COPE services; all dyads received homecare waiver program services per care plans. In this symposium, Fortinsky will report baseline findings from the complete study cohort of 291 dyads and selected findings about impacts of COPE on outcomes specific to persons with dementia and caregivers. Piersol will report challenges confronted by caregivers and the extent to which COPE reduced or eliminated caregiver-identified challenges. Robison will report acceptability of COPE to care managers and COPE interventionists and their views on dissemination and scaling COPE, based on focus group findings. Pizzi will report projected costs of COPE and caregivers’ willingness to pay for this program, and will discuss implications of these findings for adopting COPE from an economic perspective. Discussant Gitlin will comment on implications of emerging COPE-CT study findings for future pragmatic trials of dementia care interventions in home and community-based settings, and for efforts to translate evidence-based dementia care programs into existing service and reimbursement systems.