Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-cfpbc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T13:22:14.567Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Accessible Support for Family Caregivers of Seniors with Chronic Conditions: From Isolation to Inclusion*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2010

Miriam Stewart ,
Alison Barnfather ,
Anne Neufeld ,
Sharon Warren ,
Nicole Letourneau  and
Lili Liu
Miriam Stewart
Affiliation:
Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta
Alison Barnfather*
Affiliation:
Social Support Research Program, University of Alberta
Anne Neufeld
Affiliation:
Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta
Sharon Warren
Affiliation:
Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta
Nicole Letourneau
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, University of New Brunswick
Lili Liu
Affiliation:
Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Alberta
*
Requests for offprints should be sent to: / Les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être addressées à : Alison Barnfather, Social Support Research Program, 6-60 University Extension Centre, 8303-112 Street, Edmonton, AB T6G 2T4. (alison.barnfather@ualberta.ca)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Accessible support programs can improve health outcomes for family caregivers of older relatives with a chronic condition. Over the course of 6 months, 27 experienced family caregivers provided weekly support via the telephone to 66 individuals, either new family caregivers of seniors recently diagnosed with stroke or newly vulnerable family caregivers (i.e., facing increasing demands from the deterioration of their senior relative's condition) of seniors with Alzheimer's disease. Qualitative data documented the perceived impact of the intervention, including increased satisfaction with support, coping skills, caregiving competence and confidence, and decreased caregiver burden and loneliness. Caregivers identified varied support processes that overcame support deficits in their social networks. These processes can facilitate replication in future research and inform practice, programs, and policies.

Résumé

Des programmes de soutien accessibles sont en mesure d'améliorer la qualité de vie des soignants familiaux de personnes âgées souffrant d'une maladie chronique. Dans le cadre d'un programme d'une durée de six mois, 27 soignants familiaux d'expérience offraient un soutien téléphonique hebdomadaire à 66 nouveaux soignants de personnes âgées qui avaient récemment subi un accident cérébrovasculaire ou encore à des soignants devenus soudainement plus vulnérables (parce qu'ils devaient par exemple affronter des exigences de plus en plus difficiles dues à la détérioration de la santé d'une personne âgée atteinte d'Alzheimer). Des données qualitatives attestent l'impact perçu de ces interventions : une amélioration du taux de satisfaction du soutien donné, une meilleure capacité d'adaptation, des compétences accrues et une plus grande confiance en soi lors de l'administration des soins, la sensation d'avoir un fardeau moins lourd à porter et d'être moins isolé. Les soignants ont identifié différents processus de soutien capables de suppléer aux lacunes qui caractérisaient leur réseau social habituel. Il serait nécessaire de répliquer ces processus lors de recherches futures afin de s'en servir pour alimenter la pratique, les programmes et les politiques à l'égard des soins familiaux.

Keywords

agingsocial supportinterventionfamily caregiverstelephone supportcopingvieillissementsoutiensoutien socialinterventionsoignant familialsoutien téléphoniqueaffrontement
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 25 , Issue 2 , Summer/Été 2006 , pp. 179 - 192
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

*

The research team is grateful to the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research and the Capital Care Group for support of this project. We would also like to thank Linda Barrett, Gil Rueck, Sharon Alexander, Jenny Nicoll, Jane Yi, and William Rutakumwa for their contributions to the success of this project. Finally, our deepest appreciation is extended to all the families who participated in this research.

References

1.Federal Provincial and Territorial Advisory Committee on Population Health. Statistical report on the health of Canadians. Ottawa, ON: Federal Provincial and Territorial Advisory Committee on Population Health; 1999. (Cat. No. H39-467/1999E)Google Scholar
2.Statistics Canada. Statistics on chronic conditions in Canada. Ottawa, ON: Statistics Canada; 1996.Google Scholar
3.Rosenberg, MW, Moore, EG. The health of Canada's elderly population: current status and future implications. CMAJ 1997;157(8):1025–1032.Google Scholar
4.Canadian Study of Health and Aging Working Group. The incidence of dementia in Canada. Neurology 2000;55(1):66–73.Google Scholar
5.Macnamara, SE, Gummow, LJ, Goka, R, Gregg, CH. Caregiver strain: need for late poststroke intervention. Rehabil Psychol 1990;35(2):71–78.Google Scholar
6.Redinbaugh, EM, MacCallum, RC, Kiecolt-Glaser, JK. Recurrent syndromal depression in caregivers. Psychol Aging 1995;10(3):358–368.Google Scholar
7.Pruchno, RA, Kleban, MH, Michaels, JE, Dempsey, NP. Mental and physical health of caregiving spouses: development of a causal model. J Gerontol 1990;45(5):P192–P199.Google Scholar
8.Schulz, R, O'Brien, AT, Bookwala, J, Fleissner, K. Psychiatric and physical morbidity effects of dementia caregiving: prevalence, correlates, and causes. Gerontologist 1995;35(6):771–791.Google Scholar
9.Beeson, R, Horton-Deutsch, S, Farran, C, Neundorfer, M. Loneliness and depression in caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease or related disorders. Issues Ment Health Nurs 2000;21(8):779–806.Google Scholar
10.Cooke, DD, McNally, L, Mulligan, KT, Harrison, MJ, Newman, SP. Psychosocial interventions for caregivers of people with dementia: a systematic review, [see comment]. Aging Ment Health 2001;5(2):120–135.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Stewart, M. Chronic conditions and caregiving in Canada: social support strategies. Toronto: University of Toronto Press; 2000.Google Scholar
12.Thoits, PA. Stress, coping, and social support processes: Where are we? What next? J Health Soc Behav 1995;35(Spec. Issue):53–79.Google Scholar
13.Bloom, JR. The relationship of social support and health. Soc Sci Med 1990;30(5):635–637.Google Scholar
14.Choi, NG, Wodarski, JS. The relationship between social support and health status of elderly people: does social support slow down physical and functional deterioration? Soc Work Res 1996;20(1):52–63.Google Scholar
15.McNaughton, ME, Patterson, TL, Smith, TL, Grant, I. The relationship among stress, depression, locus of control, irrational beliefs, social support, and health in Alzheimer's disease caregivers. J Nerv Ment Dis 1995;183(2):78–85.Google Scholar
16.Cohen, S, Underwood, L, Gottlieb, BH. Social support measurement and intervention: a guide for health and social scientists. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2000.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17.Kaasalainen, S, Craig, D, Wells, D. Impact of the Caring for Aging Relatives Group program: an evaluation. Public Health Nurs 2000;17(3):169–177.Google Scholar
18.Gallagher, EM, Hagen, B. Outcome evaluation of a group education and support program for family caregivers. Gerontol Geriatr Educ 1996;17(1):33–50.Google Scholar
19.van den Heuvel, ET, de Witte, LP, Nooyen-Haazen, I, Sanderman, R, Meyboom-de Jong, B. Short-term effects of a group support program and an individual support program for caregivers of stroke patients. Patient Educ Couns 2000;40(2):109–120.Google Scholar
20.Mittelman, MS, Ferris, SH, Shulman, E, Steinberg, G, Ambinder, A, Mackell, JA et al. . A comprehensive support program: effect on depression in spouse-caregivers of AD patients. Gerontologist 1995;35(6):792–802.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21.Cummings, SM, Long, JK, Peterson-Hazan, S, Harrison, J. The efficacy of a group treatment model in helping spouses meet the emotional and practical challenges of early stage caregiving. Clin Gerontol 1998;20(1):29–45.Google Scholar
22.Fung, WY, Chien, WT. The effectiveness of a mutual support group for family caregivers of a relative with dementia. Arch Psychiatr Nurs 2002;16(3):134–144.Google Scholar
23.Grant, JS, Elliott, TR, Weaver, M, Bartolucci, AA, Giger, JN. Telephone intervention with family caregivers of stroke survivors after rehabilitation [see comment]. Stroke 2002;33(8):2060–2065.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
24.Sabir, M, Pillemer, K, Suitor, J, Patterson, M. Predictors of successful relationships in a peer support program for Alzheimer's caregivers. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen 2003;18(2):115–122.Google Scholar
25.Pillemer, K, Suitor, JJ. Peer support for Alzheimer's caregivers: is it enough to make a difference? Res Aging 2002;24(2):171–192.Google Scholar
26.Stewart, MJ, Doble, S, Hart, G, Langile, L, MacPherson, K. Peer visitor support for family caregivers of seniors with stroke. Can J Nurs Res 1998;30(2):87–117.Google Scholar
27.King, H. A telephone reassurance service: a natural support system for the elderly. J Gerontol Soc Work 1991;16(1–2):159–177.Google Scholar
28.Goodman, CC, Pynoos, J. A model telephone information and support program for caregivers of Alzheimer's patients. Gerontologist 1990;30(3):399–404.Google Scholar
29.Walsh, SM, Schmidt, LA. Telephone support for caregivers of patients with cancer. Cancer Nurs 2003;26(6):448–453.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
30.Ploeg, J, Biehler, L, Willison, K, Hutchison, B, Blythe, J. Perceived support needs of family caregivers and implications for a telephone support service. Can J Nurs Res 2001;33(2):43–61.Google Scholar
31.Wiener, LS. Telephone support groups for HIV-positive mothers whose children have died of AIDS. Soc Work 1998;43(3):279–285.Google Scholar
32.Meier, A, Galinsky, MJ. Telephone support groups for caregivers of persons with AIDS. Soc Work Groups 1995;18(1):99–108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
33.Murphy, GT, Stewart, M, Ritchie, J, Viscount, PW, Johnson, A. Telephone support for Canadian nurses in HIV/AIDS care. J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care 2000;11(4):73–88.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
34.Ritchie, JA, Stewart, MJ, Ellerton, ML, Thompson, D, Meade, D, Weld-Viscount, P. Parents' perceptions of the impact of a telephone support group intervention. J Fam Nurs 2000;6(1):25–45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
35.Stewart, MJ, Hart, G, Mann, K, Jackson, S, Langille, L, Reidy, M. Telephone support group intervention for persons with hemophilia and HIV/AIDS and family caregivers. Int J Nurs Stud 2001;38(2):209–225.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
36.Stewart, MJ, Mann, K, Jackson, S, Downe-Wamboldt, D, Bayers, L, Slater, M, et al. Telephone support groups for seniors with disabilities. Can J Aging 2001;20(1):47–72.Google Scholar
37.Gottlieb, BH. Accomplishments and challenges of social support intervention research. In: Stewart, MJ, editor. Chronic conditions and caregiving in Canada: social support strategies. Toronto: University of Toronto Press; 2000. p. 294–310.Google Scholar
38.Berg, BL. Qualitative research methods for the social sciences. 4th ed.Boston: Allyn and Bacon; 2001.Google Scholar
39.Borkman, T. Understanding self-help/mutual aid: experiential learning in the commons. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press; 1999.Google Scholar
40.Brodaty, H, Green, A, Koschera, A. Meta-analysis of psychosocial interventions for caregivers of people with dementia. J Am Geriatr Soc 2003;51(5):657–664.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
41.Willer, D. Network exchange theory. Westport, CT: Praeger; 1999.Google Scholar
42.Miller, JF. Coping with chronic illness: overcoming powerlessness. 2nd ed.Philadelphia: Davis; 1992.Google Scholar
43.Gottlieb, BH, Wagner, F. Stress and support processes in close relationships. In: Eckenrode, J, editor. The social context of coping. New York: Plenum; 1991. p. 165–187.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
44.Pusey, H, Richards, D. A systematic review of the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for carers of people with dementia [see comment]. Aging Ment Health 2001;5(2):107–119.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
45.Yin, T, Zhou, Q, Bashford, C. Burden on family members: caring for frail elderly—a meta-analysis of interventions. Nurs Res 2002;51(3):199–208.Google Scholar
46.Gottlieb, BH. Coping with family caregiving to persons with dementia: a critical review. Aging Ment Health 2002;6(4):325–342.Google Scholar
47.Morse, J. Critical issues in qualitative research methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage; 1994.Google Scholar
48.Health Canada. National profile of family caregivers in Canada. Ottawa, ON; 2002.Google Scholar