Christine J. Jensen, Ph.D. Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving 25 th Anniversary National Summit & Training Institute October 24, 2012 An Affiliate of Riverside Health System About Us An Affiliate of Riverside Health System Our Mission The Center for Excellence in Aging and Geriatric Health (CEAGH) is: a non profit 501(c)3 organization founded 10 years ago by a coalition of healthcare, educational, civic groups, research and assessment services. dedicated to improve the quality of life for older adults by promoting understanding of the aging process and how it impacts not only older adults, but the entire community. an affiliate of Riverside Health System To improve the quality of life for older adults by increasing autonomy and integrating the research capacity of universities, colleges and medical schools with the capabilities of local service providers. To develop and implement innovative communitybased initiatives that can be replicated and sustained. Our Vision A model community that promotes the wellbeing and independence and of older adults through collaboration among research and service professionals. There are only four kinds of people in this world: those who have been caregivers, those who currently are caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers. Rosalynn Carter 1
1.39 mil family caregivers Annual Value: $9.2 billion ($9.38/hr) Ranking: 12 th in U.S. Money Magazine named Williamsburg 5 th hottest retirement spot in country, 2007 Williamsburg is a model community to test caregiver support programs 10 Year Growth Rate: 2010 2020 Locale Pop. 65+ in 2010 Pop. 65+ in 2020 10 Year Growth Rate in 65+ Pop. James City County 10,962 14,645 33.6% York County 8,125 13,993 72.2% City of Williamsburg 1,625 1,850 13.8% AARP Public Policy Institute. Valuing the Invaluable: The Economic Value of Family Caregiving, 2008 Update. Total 20,712 30,488 47.2% Source: Virginia Employment Commission, 2007. More than ¼ of all U.S. households are involved in some form of elder care. 23% of Greater Williamsburg population are older adults, above both state and national estimates of 13%. This project focuses on helping caregivers become more proactive by offering direct education, support, and linkage with community resources. Health Services Research Caring For You, Caring For Me Health Services Research Help for Family Caregivers in the Williamsburg Community Funder: Williamsburg Community Health Foundation Caring for You, Caring for Me: Education and Support for Family & Professional Caregivers Training support group leaders in new models of delivering caregiver support groups Training professionals to utilize a caregiver s assessment tool Promote and improve caregiver access to respite services Education and support program developed (1996) by the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving 5 week course, weekly objectives Evaluations completed Week 1 and Week 5 Includes family, professional, and volunteer caregivers Class size of up to 25 How it is packaged works! Caring For You in Virginia Funded by the Williamsburg Community Health Foundation Assessment of area caregiver support groups Co Author/Trainer David Haigler visited Williamsburg, June 2009 Offered 4 sessions Fall 2009 85 caregivers completed course in 1 st year Impact Factor: 450 175 caregivers have completed course in 3 years Impact Factor:700 2
MODULE ONE Regional Best Practices Award Received Southern Gerontological Society s Best Practices Award, Spring 2012 What it Means to be a Caregiver Rosalynn MODULE TWO Taking Care of Yourself Rosalynn The healthiest way to care for another is to care for yourself. Dr. James Miller The Grit and Grace of Being a Caregiver Assessment and Reflection Assessment of Self Care Skills Adapted from: Checklist for Caregivers: Do You Take Care of Yourself? (Bass, 1990) Scores range from 12 60, with higher scores indicating risk for personal health problems Coping with Negative Emotions Listing, identify one experienced most, circumstances, changing circumstances Social Support Inventory Who, How, Why not, steps to remove barriers Assessment and Reflection (cont.) Causes and symptoms of caregiver burnout Common Hooks Guilt/Shame If you really cared for me, you wouldn t have. Taking Sides You agree with me, don t you? 3
Humor & Laughter Immune system benefits Telling jokes Sharing sweet stories Defusing negative emotions Candle Meditation Caregivers have a unique role to play in an individual s struggle. That role may be compared to a candle. A candle can help illuminate an experience, provide a path in the darkness, and give courage to explore. Caregivers, at their best, can provide that light. MODULE THREE Candle Meditation (cont.) That light can accompany individuals as they negotiate a sometimes treacherous and scary path. The journey may be dark, but the light can make it less terrifying. Only the caregivers who make the time to take care of themselves can be at their best and be like the candle that continues to burn without burning out. Doka, K.J. (1993). Living with life threatening illness: A guide for patients, their families and caregivers. New York: Lexington Books. Building Cooperative Relationships Rosalynn MODULE FOUR Elements Needed for Building & Maintaining Cooperative Relationships Effective communication Mutual Respect Trust Perspective Taking Positive Reinforcement Frequent Contact Preventing and Solving Problems Rosalynn 4
MODULE FIVE Accessing and Developing Resources Rosalynn Barriers to Accessing the System Inability to access live assistance Cycle of dead ends Obtaining unhelpful response Language barrier Staff turnover Obtaining different responses from same agency Phone calls not returned in timely manner Unclear eligibility requirements Navigating the System 1. Do your homework. 2. Prepare for the challenges but keep a positive attitude. 3. Evaluate potential services. 4. Involve care receiver in decisions about services. 5. Keep your own records. Navigating the System (continued) 6. Use guides and forms developed by others. 7. Never give up. 8. Advocate and accept advocacy. 9. Accept limitations (yours and others ). 10. Trust your own judgment. Findings: Caregiver Participants Post Test (n = 105) Health: 91% rated as good, very good, or excellent R =.253, p =. 027, health status pre to postevaluation period Most Helpful Module: 24% Building Cooperative Relationships, 22.4% Accessing Resources, 21% Taking Care of Yourself Findings (cont.) Module that Needs to be Longer: 54% Preventing/Solving Problems Recommend to Other Caregivers: 100% Overall Rating: 69.14% Excellent, 30.86% Very Good Greatest Impact: 91.25% Knowledge of Resources, 81% Better Equipped to Take Care of Oneself Confidence in Caregiving as Result of Program: 77.92% Very Good or Excellent 5
Ongoing Efforts CEAGH & Peninsula Agency on Aging maintain an active listing of area caregiver support groups CFYCFM is now an ongoing program offered by CEAGH ~$35/participant, scholarships available Wide Appeal (with diverse focus, geography, and clients) Facilitators: maintenance and recruitment Interns Host sites Incorporation of new evaluation items Contact Us The Center for Excellence in Aging & Geriatric Health An Affiliate of Riverside Health System 3901 Treyburn Drive, Suite 100 Williamsburg, VA 23185 757 220 4751 cjensen@excellenceinaging.org www.excellenceinaging.org 6