The Development of a Nutritional Education Program for Caregivers of Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Alzheimer's Disease

BRAIN STAR is an acronym for "Become Rightly Aware and Informed about Nutrition: Strategies, Tips, And Recipes. " The BRAIN STAR program is targeted as a nutrition education program for caregivers of community-dwelling older adults with Alzheimer's disease. With an increasing number of older adults with Alzheimer's disease living at home under the care of a family member, a nutrition education program targeting family caregivers will be a worthwhile effort. Studies in the past have reported an improvement in nutritional status of care recipients when caregivers are educated on nutritional requirements. Currently there are no programs available in Salt Lake City that teaches nutrition to caregivers of community-dwelling older adults with Alzheimer's disease. The BRAIN STAR program has been developed and grounded on a strong conceptual framework of theories such as the Adult Learning Theory, Social Cognitive Theory and the Health Belief Model. The overall objective of the program is to teach family caregivers important nutrition principles so they can plan and prepare healthier meals for their care recipients with Alzheimer's disease and thus improve the nutritional status and quality of life of their loved ones with Alzheimer's disease.