The vast majority of people with dementia living in the community (91%) are cared for by their unpaid family carers. The provision of unpaid care often causes pronounced stress, resulting in mental and physical health deterioration, and loss of productivity and income. Our e-DiVA study aims to empower Dementia Carers with an iSupport Virtual Assistant tool and evaluate the tool through a randomised controlled trial.

The World Health Organization (WHO) developed iSupport for dementia, an online skills training and support program for carers of people with dementia. iSupport aims to improve the mental health and well-being of family and other informal carers of people with dementia. 

We aim to translate the WHO iSupport to Bahasa, te reo Māori and Vietnamese, and culturally and contextually adapt the WHO iSupport to fit the health and social care systems of Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand and Vietnam. This work will culminate in the development of an iSupport Virtual Assistant comprising a website and a smart device app that will allow carers to search topics using text or voice command and provide video instruction to support them in their caring role.

Evaluation of the feasibility, acceptability and possible effects of the iSupport Virtual Assistant on stress, psychological distress and quality of life will be done through a randomised controlled trial.

Contact: A/Prof Tuan Nguyen