Table 1 Baseline intervention - Trial 1 (Group) ^*

Session 1 (week 1)

1. Introduce basic knowledge of dementia

1. Introduce basic knowledge of dementia

1. Introduce basic knowledge of dementia

2. Discuss communication skills with CR, with illustrations

3. Introduce the diary task of benefit finding

Session 2 (week 2)

1. Introduce concepts and skills in stress management

1. Introduce concepts and skills in stress management

1. Introduce concepts and skills in stress management

2. Use ‘emotional thermometer’ to help them understand their emotional reactions in different situations

2. Balance between self-care and caregiving responsibilities

2. Balance between self-care and caregiving responsibilities

3. Balance between self-care and caregiving responsibilities

3. Introduce importance of mutual support

3. Introduce importance of mutual support

4. Introduce importance of mutual support

4. Relaxation exercise

4. Introduce relaxation without practice

5. Introduce effects of cognition on emotion and behavior

6. Relaxation exercise

Session 3 (week 3)

1. Introduce BPSD and possible causes

1. Introduce BPSD and possible causes

1. Introduce BPSD and possible causes

2. Introduce ways to cope with and manage BPSD

2. Introduce ways to cope with and manage BPSD

2. Introduce ways to cope with and manage BPSD

3. Introduce home-based activities for CR (for example, cognitive stimulation, multisensory stimulation, reminiscence)

3. Introduce home-based activities for CR (for example, cognitive stimulation, multisensory stimulation, reminiscence)

3. Introduce home-based activities for CR (for example, cognitive stimulation, multisensory stimulation, reminiscence)

4. Introduce and practice positive reappraisal; mutual sharing of benefits

4. Use case study to illustrate behavioral management

5. Use case study to illustrate behavioral management and emotion-focused coping, with particular emphasis on positive reappraisals

Session 4 (week 4)

1. Repeat Session 3 on behavioral management and positive reappraisal with different BPSD; additional examples and case study are presented

1. Repeat Session 3 on psychological symptoms management; additional examples and case study are presented

1. Repeat Session 3 on psychological symptoms management; additional examples are presented

Session 5 (week 5)

1. Introduce caring skills for ADL I - bathing, dressing, and incontinence, and so on

1. Introduce caring skills for ADL I - bathing, dressing, and incontinence, and so on

1. Introduce caring skills for ADL I - bathing, dressing, and incontinence, and so on

2. Transfer and support techniques with practice

2. Transfer and support techniques with practice

2. Demonstrate transfer and support techniques without practice

3. Sharing by child caregiver on caregiving experience and benefits to self

Session 6 (week 6)

1. Introduce caring skills for ADL II - taking medications, use of telephone, housework, and so on

1. Introduce caring skills for ADL II - taking medications, use of telephone, housework, and so on

1. Introduce caring skills for ADL II - taking medications, use of telephone, housework, and so on

2. Sharing by spouse caregiver on caregiving experience and benefits to self

2. Introduce timetabling and activity planning

2. Introduce timetabling and activity planning

3. Introduce timetabling and activity planning

Session 7 (week 7)

1. Home environment

1. Discuss communication skills with CR, with illustration

1. Discuss communication skills with CR, with illustration

2. Community resources

3. Practice positive reappraisal; mutual sharing of benefits

Session 8 (week 8)

1. Sharing by child-in-law caregiver on caregiving experience and benefits to self

1. Home environment

1. Home environment

2. Acceptance of caregiving role

2. Community resources

2. Community resources

3. Reflect on motivations to provide care

4. Overview of things learned

5. Set goals for improvement in coming year, with particular reference to areas where perceived benefits are still lacking