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Impact of the Tailored Activity Program (TAP) on Depressive Symptoms Among White and Black Dementia Caregivers
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Impact of the Tailored Activity Program (TAP) on Depressive Symptoms Among White and Black Dementia Caregivers

Laura N. Gitlin, David L. Roth and Katherine Marx
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS), v 73(10), pp 3208-3214
Oct 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.70020
PMID: 41139689
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
url
https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.70020View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

activity engagement caregiving dementia care Mental Health
ABSTRACT Background Depressive symptoms are common in caregivers of people with dementia, with most interventions targeting their emotional/cognitive stance. Unknown is whether targeting people with dementia's quality of life can improve caregiver mood. Methods Of 250 caregivers in a single‐blind, two‐arm randomized trial, we examined a subgroup (N = 94) identifying as White (N = 60) or Black (N = 34) and with elevated depression scores (PHQ‐9 ≥ 5) at baseline. Caregivers randomized to the Tailored Activity Program (TAP) received eight home sessions by occupational therapists who provided activities tailored to people with dementia's interests and abilities and instructed caregivers in their use. Caregivers randomized to attention control received eight sessions by research assistants who provided dementia education. The primary outcome was the caregivers PHQ‐9 scores (3‐months‐baseline). Results Caregivers were on average 64.6 years old. Most were female (84.0%), college educated (76.5%), and caregiving for about 4 years. More Black than White caregivers were non‐spouses (76.5% vs. 40.0%; p < 0.01). At baseline, PHQ‐9 scores were similar for Black and White caregivers and in the mild severity range. By 3 months, there was a significant race by treatment interaction effect (p = 0.031), with covariate‐adjusted means showing significant decreases in PHQ‐9 scores for White caregivers in TAP only (adj. M = −2.3). In pairwise comparisons, White TAP caregivers had greater decreases in PHQ‐9 scores than White caregivers in the control group (p = 0.01) whose scores worsened. No differences were observed between Black caregivers in TAP versus controls, although PHQ‐9 scores decreased for both groups (p > 0.05). However, both Black and White TAP caregivers were more likely to remit (PHQ‐9 < 5) compared to controls by 3‐months (odds ratio = 3.24, 95% CI = 1.05–10.14, p = 0.04). Conclusions Engaging people with dementia in activities improved mood in White caregivers, and both Black and White caregivers benefited from a remission in clinically significant depressive symptoms. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: # NCT01892579

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Gerontology
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