Accruing the sample: strategies for recruiting older adult and African Americans caregivers for persons with Alzheimer's disease

The challenges and barriers associated with recruiting a representative sample of community-residing older adult caregivers for persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD) may limit efficient accrual in a reasonable period. These limitations may inhibit study completion, result in underpowered samples, or overextend research budgets. With the use of both grassroots recruiting and local community resources, successful recruitment methods and experiences obtained during two studies, the first in older adults caring for a spouse with AD and the second in family caregivers for African Americans with AD, are described. Strategies used to accrue the samples are discussed within the framework of knowledge, planning, and creativity.