Four Part Elder Caregiving Series… In Partnership with Public Libraries

[with support from Senior Spectrum’s Family Caregiver Support Program]

Project Description: Four Part Elder Caregiving Series… In Partnership with Public Libraries

Goal: To partner with community-based public libraries to provide educational opportunities for seniors, elder caregivers, and concerned family members and friends.

Objectives:

Increase awareness of the needs of people as they age and of the those people who care for them,
Help seniors and elder caregivers become familiar with the types of programs and services that are available in the community to assist them,
Share practical ways to prepare or plan ahead that will help reduce uncertainty and minimize the personal stress on seniors, elder caregivers, and family and friends.

Activities: Offer a four-part elder caregiving series in six different locations throughout Somerset and Kennebec Counties. Each part will include a two-hour session and supporting materials.

Evaluation: Program participants will complete an evaluation form at the end of each session. Results will be tabulated and reported for each session and each four-part series. A cumulative summary will be prepared for all six locations and each topic area.

Results:

Participants could attend one or more of the sessions in the 4 part elder caregiving series. Some participants crossed over and attended sessions in more than one scheduled series.

Thirty-six program participants, six public libraries, and three Extension staff members were involved in the six series. 15 extra sets of materials were prepared.

Sample Participant Caregiver Scenarios:

Case 1: Three adult children [approx. age 55+, 2 M, 1 F] as caregivers for 81-year-old mother. The mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease about five years ago. She currently resides with one of her sons, but his wife’s emerging medical needs will require a change in the existing caregiving arrangement. The mother’s move to the daughter’s home is imminent. The daughter has an 88 year old mother-in-law that is currently living alone, but doing fine. The daughter has support from her extended family, including both of her brothers. She has previous nursing home work experience as a dietary support staff member. Respite services are being accessed.
Case 2: Adult child [F, 1 of 3] is married and caring for her 84-year-old mother. Her mother has lived with her for the past 13 years. The mother is legally blind, extremely hard of hearing, is required to be on oxygen, but is physically able to get around. The adult child is concerned about her ability to care for her mother should her condition worsen. The daughter is unfamiliar with existing services or programs. Her husband is approaching retirement and they would both like to travel. The mother spends the summer with her other daughter. Her son has limited contact and no caregiving responsibilities. Currently no services are being accessed. Medical care was reportedly inconsistent, due to physician turnover.

Program evaluation notes:

A total of 74 evaluation sheets were returned from the four sessions… in all six series – 36 were from Kennebec County participants, 38 were from Somerset County participants
17 to 21 evaluation forms were returned for each of four sessions
On a scale from 1 to 5, 1 being not much, 3 being some, and 5 being very much…
The average program participant rating for enjoyment of the sessions was 4.70.
The average program participant rating for amount learned during the session was 4.42.
While there was no significant difference in the ratings between program topics, participants appeared to have enjoyed session 3 the most, but learned the most from session 1.
Over 90% of the respondents could give examples of what they had learned.
Session 1 learning was primarily related to an increased knowledge and empathy concerning activities of daily living [ADL’s] or Instrumental Activities of Daily Living [IADL’s]… and how mobility, disability, or impairments impact the ability to function daily.
Session 2 learning was primarily related to an appreciation of the caregiver’s roles and responsibilities… and the need to plan ahead.
Session 3 learning was primarily related to an increased knowledge of available programs and services and how to access them.
Session 4 learning was primarily related to needed legal documents for later in life… and again, the importance of planning ahead.
About 83% of the respondents indicated how they planned to use the information gained. Some indicated they would apply what they learned to everyday situations with the elderly, many indicated they would use what they learned in caring for elderly family members, friends, or themselves…, and a large number of participants indicated they would use what they learned in the workplace.
Over 75% of the respondents shared how knowing and using the information provided in the sessions would make a difference in their lives. Commonly reported benefits included being:
less stressed and more comfortable with caregiving expectations,
better prepared for a crisis or changing elder caregiving needs and responsibilities,
more informed and knowledgeable about where to go for help.
About 13% suggested way to improve the sessions, but most indicated no improvements were necessary. Either lengthening the sessions or condensing the material covered to fit available time, in some cases, was mentioned. Participants were appreciative of the information they had received and suggested additional program promotion might be needed to reach more people.
Almost 18% were seeking additional information, most notably was additional information on Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, adaptive equipment and products, life review resources, and available caregiver support programs and resources.

UMCE Aging Aging Initiatives Caregiver Education Research, Reports, & Statistics Health and Wellness

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Last Modified: 08/13/06
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