Caring for Caregivers
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For family and friends caring for stroke survivors and Alzheimer’s patients, a new program offers support.
Aired November 18, 2007
2 minutes (1.8 MB) | Download mp3
Transcript
Providing home care to the survivor of a significant stroke can affect an older caregiver’s own health.From the University of Kansas, this is Research Matters. I’m Brendan Lynch.
A study underway at KU is aimed at relieving strain on those over age 55 caring for stroke survivors. Researcher Cynthia Teel is evaluating a program dubbed “Self-Care Talk” - where family caregivers spend 30 minutes per week discussing issues like diet and exercise with a nurse.
Teel: "By simple, relatively brief phone conversations with caregivers, if we can keep people healthier and keep them in their homes longer — even one day — then it’s a very cost efficient, beneficial intervention. Almost everyone feels that they are the best ones to provide the care most effectively, most lovingly and most correctly."
Teel, an associate professor at the KU School of Nursing, says age is the key contributor to caregivers’ heath problems, one that also can impact the quality of care they provide.
Teel: "Being older in and of itself does introduce some vulnerabilities of isolation, of physical strength, of stamina. And that is the focus of our research — is how to promote the health of the caregiver so that not only can they continue to provide care in the hom, but they continue to maintain their own health."
Teel also is looking at people giving care to family or freinds diagnosed with dementia or alzheimer’s. results for both groups of caregivers have been encouraging.
Teel: "Participants in that study — I don’t want to use the word ‘raved,’ but they raved — they were very enthusiastic about the intervention. They told us stories about keeping the notebook of the materials next to the phone so it was a constant reminder that they needed to take care of themselves — that that was just as important as caring for their loved one. But also, that they weren’t alone in this."
For more on the health of older adult caregivers, log on to Research Matters DOT K-U DOT E-D-U. From the University of Kansas, I'm Brendan Lynch.
Tell Me More
Researcher at KU School of Nursing gives family caregivers a checkup
LAWRENCE — Following hospitalization, most stroke survivors come back home again. Upon return, some require support from family and friends to accomplish everyday tasks such as bathing, dressing and eating.
