[Geriatric psychiatric home visits as counseling via video (GerHaRD digital) - Evaluation of feasibility]

The applicability of video calls in counseling people with dementia and their caregivers in a home setting was examined.First-time enquirers for advice in a Dementia Network were offered an online appointment (video call) with the caregiver in the presence of the person with dementia (PWD) by a psychiatrist and a social worker from a Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic. Socio-demographic data, an assessment of current symptoms and the current burden on relatives were collected and subsequently evaluated by the BZ.The 24 inquiries resulted in 9 video calls. Selected results, e. g. the caregivers burden and the evaluation by the users, are reported.The Caregivers seeking advice and, with them, the PWD use the format like a face-to-face meeting. Advantages include the simultaneous involvement of several family members in a conference call or overcoming the immobility of the PWD due to illness.