Caring for an older family member at home
can be a challenging and isolating experience.
Often spouses or adult children of the older adult become caregivers
out of necessity, but with little preparation for some of the tasks involved. Mrs. B., for example, was plummeted into the
role of caregiver when her husband suffered a stroke. They had been living in a lively, but isolated
home one hour from the city. Suddenly,
she needed to know all kinds of things. It soon became apparent they could no longer
live in their country home and she quickly rented an apartment and moved the
basic necessities. She was desperate
to know about some of the services in her new community because her husband
was about to be discharged from hospital.
She felt lonely and displaced in this new environment. Getting a call inviting her to join a Caregiver
Group could not have come at a more opportune time. Caregiver support groups offer a chance for
caregivers to meet others in the same boat to share experiences and learn
practical information to make the job of caregiving easier.
In April 1999, the Day Hospital began offering caregiver groups to family members of
Day Hospital clients. In the
first group, which ran from April 28th to May 26th,
three sessions were held on a biweekly basis.
It was challenging to find a time of day that would be compatible with
the heavy demands of caregiving and working.
Offering the sessions from 4:30 to 6 p.m. accommodated both the working
caregivers (often adult children caring for an elderly parent), as well as
spouses. It was an exciting and stimulating
group of twelve who connected quickly and easily with one another through
their common experiences. Since then
two other groups have been conducted, one in the fall with 16 participants
and another in the winter with 13 participants.
Both of these were held in the morning and focused on the needs of
spouses. A fourth series is being planned
for the spring. Originally, the target
group was limited to caregivers/family members of current and recently discharged
Day Hospital clients, but more recent offerings of the program have expanded to include
family members of any patient from the in-patient units at St. Mary’s of the
Lake Hospital.
As well as providing support to caregivers, each session
also has an educational component and each meeting focuses on a different
topic. For example, in the first series
the topics covered included, Getting
the Services You Need for Yourself and Your Family, Juggling Family Responsibilities and Memory Changes in Seniors, reflecting the most pressing concerns identified
by these caregivers. Another objective
of the group is to teach skills that could assist caregivers with their tasks.
The group also strives to reduce caregiver stress and increase the
ability of caregivers to cope effectively with their responsibilities.
Through the weekly meetings, participants gradually begin to develop
their own support network. By attending
the group, caregivers also get the chance to polish up their communication
and assertiveness skills in order to get the help they require for both themselves
and the family member they are caring for.
Prior to the commencement of each series, a needs assessment
is completed with potential participants using a questionnaire which asks
respondents to rate their own needs. In
addition, the questionnaire captures information as to preferred meeting times
and frequency of meetings. Topics covered
in the meetings reflect the needs expressed by the caregivers.
The primary information needs of the caregivers surveyed so far are:
understanding the services available and how to access them, coping with
caregiver stress, juggling family responsibilities, memory changes in seniors,
as well as future planning and information about specific health concerns,
such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer ‘s Disease. Adjustments are made each time to the curriculum
in order to ensure that the topics covered are as relevant as possible to
the needs of the current group. For
example, based on the most recent needs assessment, a speaker who offered
tips for improving memory was included. Another
time, the topic of depression in seniors
was added to reflect the issues raised by participants.
Evaluations have been very positive. Often caregivers comment on the valuable information
they have received about services available and how to access them.
In the last group, caregivers were relieved to hear that a short term
break from caregiving is available through Respite Care, allowing them the
opportunity to renew their energies for caregiving or perhaps attend to their
own health care needs. Most frequently mentioned as helpful, is the
opportunity to listen to other people and know they are not the only one experiencing
the joys and frustrations of caregiving. For example, one caregiver commented she appreciated
learning the ways other caregivers cope with much bigger problems than hers.
For others, it was the opportunity to talk about the day to day issues:
“It is great to feel okay about sharing since after awhile no one, not even
family members, want to hear about what is happening in our lives since there
is not much positive change.” Stress
management is always a major concern and caregivers are now able to admit
they understand the need to share some of the responsibility with others and
“to try and get more time for me.” Caregivers
state they are now better equipped to ask for help when they need it. As one member commented, “Knowing there is help
available and you will not be judged because you are not Wonder Woman is reassuring.”
It is almost one year since the first group began and
plans for follow-up with those who have participated in one of the groups is underway. It is hoped that a brief reunion of former members
will continue to foster the information network of support begun in the group.
The spirit of this support is reflected in one of the caregivers comments,
“For me, the most valuable lesson from all of the meetings is that I am not
alone and there is help for me if needed.”