Training older adults about Alzheimer’s disease – impact on knowledge and fear

Abstract

Although the impact of Alzheimer’s disease training programs directed to informal and formal caregivers has been extensively studied, programs for older adults who do not have the disease are relatively few. Moreover, increased knowledge increases fear of the disease, even though there is little empirical evidence to support this. This study investigated the impact of an Alzheimer’s disease training program for older persons on their knowledge and fear of the condition. Participants consisted of 110 older adults who voluntarily applied for a 16-hour course as part of the University of the Third Age. A questionnaire, consisting of two validated tools (Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale and the Fear of Alzheimer’s Disease Scale), was distributed pre- and posttraining to the participants. Sixty-six questionnaires (response rate = 60%) were collected at the start of the program and 46 at the end (response rate = 42%). Participants’ fear at pretraining was significantly related to their current knowledge of the disease. Training significantly improved knowledge of the disease, but the participants’ perceived fear did not change. The study indicated that an Alzheimer’s disease training program for older persons can increase their knowledge, but it does not necessarily increase their fear. Training programs aimed at raising awareness of Alzheimer’s disease should target more effectively this age cohort who may be concerned and are seeking learning opportunities to know more about the condition.