A Behavioral Health Education Series for Older

Adults and Their Caregivers

Elaine T. Jurkowski, PhD, MSWMelissa Ruffino, MSWChris Corzine, MSWKent Maddox, MSW, LCSW

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Presenter Disclosures

(1) The following personal financial relationships with commercial interests relevant to this presentation existed during the past 12 months:

Elaine T. Jurkowski

No relationships to disclose.

An initial step towards meeting the behavioral health literacy needs within an older adult target group was to create awareness and understanding among older adults and their caregivers about mental health disorders.

These disorders and this “improved literacy level” can affect both older adult treatment and treatment options that they may seek out, if properly educated.

This project aimed to develop an effective intervention through some educational tools which can promote an understanding of various mental health issues and topics that are important to the older adult and their caregivers.

 

Background3

Makes use of the Stages of Change model developed by Prochaska and DiClemente (1983) and Bandura’s Self-Efficacy model (2005).

Makes use of the various stages of the model ranging from Pre-contemplation, contemplation, planning, action and evaluation.

Conceptual Framework

Pre-contemplation

Contemplation

Planning

Action

Evaluation

Follow-up

Bandura’s Self Efficacy Model (2005)

Conceptual Framework (cont)

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The goal of this intervention was to provide health information which will help consumers and their families make informed health decisions and seek care based on informed decision making.

Purpose

A needs assessment conducted in 2008 by the School of Social Work (SSW), SIUC among senior nutrition programs identified ten specific areas and topics that older adults wanted to learn more about.

A partnership emerged between SSW-SIUC and Caring Counseling Ministries to develop funding partnership.

Marion’s WGGH Radio station and “Dare to Care” program offered talk show air time to discuss topics in caregiving as a monthly topic on weekly show.

Process/Steps in Development

CCM Intern and SSW-SIUC faculty developed a script for use on the Dare to Care program.

Script was also transformed into a therapeutic workbook.

Therapeutic workbook built upon evidence based programs and current research and best practice.

Radio program then “cut” into a CD for use. Module package then emerged.

Process/Steps in Development

Caring Counseling Ministries, Marion, Illinois

WGGH Radio Station

“Dare to Care” weekly radio show

School of Social Work,

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Partners

Each package contains a therapeutic workbook and easy listening CD with a ½ hour recording, that meshes with the workbook. The format includes:A Case study showcasing a typical scenario.

Statistics and facts about the topic area. Common concerns Evidence based solutions/interventions. Ideas for further contacts/resources. Action steps to help with caregiver

concerns.

Contents

1. What is caregiving?

2. Caregiving hoops and wrangles.

3. Caregiving and depression.

4. Caregiving and people with Alzheimer’s

Disease.

5. Caregiving and legal issues.

Topics include:

6. Caregiving, caregiver burnout and

compassion fatigue.

7. Grandparents raising grandchildren.

8. Caregiving and people with chronic

health care needs.

9. Caregiving and behavioral health issues.

10. End of life care, grief and loss.

Topics include:

Key features include:◦ Definition of caregiving.◦ Specific examples of caregiving behaviors.◦ Background to stressors and challenges to

caregiving.

1. What is Caregiving?

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Key features include:◦ What are some legal issues that caregivers face.◦ Strategies to deal with the social-emotional and

legal issues that caregivers face.◦ Strategies to deal with the curve balls that

caregivers face in their role.

2. Caregiving Hoops and Wrangles

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Key features include:◦ Signs and symptoms of depression.◦ Susceptibility to depression and burnout.◦ Building an understanding of how depression can

impact the caregiving process.◦ Strategies to help address barriers which can lead

to depression in caregiving.

3. Caregiving and Depression

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Key features include:◦ Understanding the biology of Alzheimer's Disease

and how the disease impacts one’s brain.◦ Explanations of how one’s behavior can be

impacted due to changes that are happening in one’s brain.

◦ Key signs and symptions of what to look for as the disease makes

Progress through the brain.

4. Caregiving and People with Alzheimer’s Disease

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Key features include:◦ What legal issues caregivers need to be aware of

during the care-giver process.◦ How to deal with power of attorney for one’s body

and estate.◦ Strategies to be aware of in efforts to protect

one’sestate.

5. Caregiving and Legal Issues

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Key features include:◦ Definitions of caregiver burnout and compassion

fatigue.◦ Key signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue.◦ Awareness of how compassion fatigue can impact

the caregiving process.◦ Strategies to protect oneself against encounteringcompassion fatigue as a caregiver.

6. Caregiving, Caregiver Burnout and Compassion Fatigue

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Key features include:◦ Building an understanding for grandparents

raising grandchildren of what issues grandparents will be confronted with.

◦ Legal strategies for grandparents raising grandchildren need to be aware of.

◦ Understanding of the differences in roles between grandparents raising a grandchild versus being solely a grandparent,

◦ Behavior management strategies for grandparents who are raising grandchildren,

7. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

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Key features include:◦ How chronic health care needs in loved ones can

impact the caregiver in their process of caregiving.

◦ What issues can one expect to incur with different aspects of chronic health care needs.

8. Caregiving and People with Chronic Health Care Needs

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Key features include:◦ Understanding what behavioral health issues may

surface for people with behavioral issues.◦ Strategies to deal with behavioral issues as a

caregiver.◦ Resources available to caregivers working with a

loved one who has behavioral health issues.

9. Caregiving and Behavioral Health Issues

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Key features include:◦ Understanding end of life care, grief and loss

issues.◦ Helping the caregiver understand the stages of

grief and loss, as well as stages associated with the end of life.

◦ What is hospice care and how it plays a role in the end of life care process.

10. End of Life Care, Grief and Loss

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Field test modules to identify the effectiveness of this intervention and impact of the intervention on reducing caregiver stress and depression.

Obtain financial support to replicate materials for consumer use.

Obtain financial support to continue the series into parenting issues.

Next steps:

Contact:◦ Dr Elaine T. Jurkowski◦ School of Social Work◦ Southern Illinois University Carbondale◦ Carbondale, Illinois 62901-4329◦ etjurkow@siu.edu◦ 618-453-2243 (phone)◦ 618-453-4291 (fax)

Interested in more information?

1. http://geriatrics.stanford.edu/ethnomed/african_american/access/disparities/physician/caregiving.html

2. http://anthonyssong.blogspot.com/2012/04/male-caregivers-have-more-than-doubled.html

3. http://www.lfsco.org/caregiver-services 4. http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Eldercare/2012/20120914-

New_Healthinaging.htm 5. http://www.pathwaysforaging.com/services 6. http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol3/issue4/staples.html 7. http://sandiegocaregiversblog.com/staying-fit-to-help-with-your-

caregiving-duties/ 8. http://www.caring.com/articles/caring-for-difficult-parent 9. http://www.whatispsychology.biz/depression-more-common-among-

stroke-caregivers-00005 10.

http://www.ninr.nih.gov/ResearchAndFunding/DEA/AD_RFA_July2012.htm

Citations

11. http://www.caregivinghelp.org/plan-ahead/legal-issues

12. http://frontlinegcm.com/caregiver-burnout-don%E2%80%99t-forget-to-take-care-of-yourself/

13. http://www.today.colostate.edu/story.aspx?id=482 14. http://www.ehow.com/how_11414711_become-

registered-caregiver.html 15. http://iava.org/success-story/iava-helps-spearhead-

passage-caregivers-veterans-omnibus-health-services-act-2010

16. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2009/12/31/GA2009123101687.html

Citations Cont…