
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 5, 1995                   TAG: 9505050073
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RADFORD PROFESSORS SEEK STRESSED-OUT CAREGIVERS

Seven New River Valley and Roanoke-area residents, all of whom are taking care of family members with Alzheimer's disease, began talking with each other by computer this week as part of a Radford University research project.

Two Radford professors, Janet McDaniel and Thomas Pierce, are trying to determine if communication with someone with similar responsibilities can lessen the stress and loneliness caregivers suffer.

"Their conversations already are showing how tired they are," said McDaniel, a professor of nursing. "Hopefully, by providing support, we can reduce this sense of frustration and stress."

Alzheimer's patients can be extremely demanding to care for because they suffer memory loss, confusion, personality changes and deterioration in personal care. Also, the disease is progressive, which means the conditions worsen.

The progression of the disease can last from three to 20 years, so the care period can be extensive as well as confining, said Pierce, a psychology professor.

"It's difficult for caregivers to get out of their homes to do things for themselves, and it can often be true that friends and family are reluctant to visit," Pierce said.

McDaniel and Pierce have a $30,000 grant from the Alzheimer's Association and a $4,000 grant from the school's Waldron College of Nursing and Health Sciences for their research.

So far, they have recruited 15 people in the New River and Roanoke valleys, but they are looking for more. Participants don't need previous computer experience, the researchers said. Also, they can live outside the Roanoke and New River areas, because the grant money can be used to pay for long-distance telephone costs.

Participants are linked with the university through modems and phone lines. Calls from Roanoke are routed through the Roanoke Valley Graduate Center and are local calls.

Group members can send electronic mail that is seen by all in the group, or private messages to an individual participant.

A participant's stress and anxiety levels, blood pressure and depression are measured before and during the study so the researchers can determine if they are changed by the interaction.

The first group of seven will talk for 10 weeks, then will be replaced by a second group. Groups are limited to seven participants, because that's how many laptop computers the researchers have.

"If someone wants to donate computers or a person wants to link in with his or her own computer, then we can add people," McDaniel said.

People interested in the program can call Pierce at (703)831-5444 or McDaniel at 831-5113; Roanoke residents can call toll-free by dialing 857-8920 and giving the switchboard operator the last four digits of either telephone number.

by CNB