Negotiation Training for Family Caregivers of People With Alzheimer's Disease

Family caregivers of people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias often experience conflicts and communication challenges when coordinating care, making decisions, and interacting with family members and healthcare providers. These challenges can contribute to caregiver burden, stress, anxiety, and reduced well-being. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of NegotiAge, an online negotiation and communication training program designed for family caregivers. NegotiAge provides education and interactive practice exercises to help caregivers develop negotiation, problem-solving, conflict-resolution, and communication skills that can be applied to real-world caregiving situations. Approximately 200 family caregivers will be randomly assigned to either the NegotiAge intervention or an attention-control educational website. Participants will complete online surveys before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and at 1-month and 3-month follow-up time-points. The study will examine whether NegotiAge reduces caregiver burden and improves communication, conflict-management behaviors, self-efficacy, stress, anxiety, fatigue, and well-being. Findings from this research may help improve support programs for family caregivers of people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 21 years or older * Self-identify as a family caregiver or unpaid care partner of a person with Alzheimer's disease, a related dementia, cognitive impairment, or memory loss. * Provide at least 2 hours per week of assistance, support, advocacy, healthcare coordination, or decision-making for the care recipient. * Able to read, understand, and communicate in English. * Able and willing to provide informed consent. * Have regular access to an internet-connected computer, tablet, or smartphone and be comfortable using web-based programs and surveys. * Willing to be randomized to either the NegotiAge intervention group or the attention-control group and complete all study assessments. Exclusion Criteria: * Prior participation in PlanYourLifespan studies (STU00209195 or STU00225351). * Prior participation in any NegotiAge study (STU00212921). * Younger than 21 years of age. * Not currently serving as a family caregiver or unpaid care partner for a person with Alzheimer's disease, a related dementia, cognitive impairment, or memory loss. * Unable to provide informed consent. * Unable to read, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to complete study activities. * Significant cognitive impairment or another condition that would prevent meaningful participation in study activities. * Lack of access to the technology required for participation in the online intervention and study assessments.