Farm Families Coping with Dementia
The Farm Families Coping with Dementia (FFCD) program aims to reduce injuries among older farmers with memory issues and support the mental health of their caregivers. Supported by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a study will evaluate FFCD's impact on participants' understanding of dementia, caregiver burden, confidence in caregiving, and safety plans.
We invite adults (18+) with a family member with dementia (or showing signs of memory loss), in a farming community, to join this free, 4-week program. Sessions will be conducted through a 60-minute online Zoom webinar, once a week. Participants will be assigned, at random, to start in July 2025 or January 2026. The program includes four weekly modules:
Alzheimer's and dementia basics - session one helps understand the ten warning signs of dementia and offer a basic understanding of Alzheimer's
Farm safety and dementia - session two looks at the stages (progression) of Alzheimer's and farm concerns with making decisions, and farm safety
Improving safety with dementia - session three identifies ways to intervene, prevent, and adapt for safety concerns
Caregiving and communication - session four focuses on the caregiver, to decrease stress, identify resources, and improve communication with the loved one with memory concerns and healthcare providers.
Participants are asked to complete two 20-minute surveys and receive $40 total. An optional interview offers an additional $10.
Interested: Call 319-384-3817 to complete a brief eligibility screening. Caregivers can live in urban or rural areas.
Questions: Email Kanika Arora (kanika-arora@uiowa.edu) or Julie Bobitt (jbobitt@uic.edu).