At Risk Elderly in Rural America: Creating Family Support Networks

摘要

The final report discusses a project undertaken by the Meigs County Council on Aging to provide training and emotional support to 15 families who were caring for frail elders as an alternative to institutionalization. The project entailed 17 training sessions on topics ranging from home health care techniques to rehabilitative exercise to coping with death and dying. Regular home visits by the staff social worker and discussion/support group sessions helped to reinforce skill development and offered opportunities for caregivers to vent feelings and develop self-nurturing behaviors. Evaluative elements of the project included assessing caregiver skill and attitude improvement through interviews, pre- and post-tests, and survey questionnaires. Care recipients, to the extent of their abilities, were interviewed to gage their perception of the project's impact on their situation. The Advisory Board and caregivers evaluated the process, methodology, and results of the program. A study of the cost-effectiveness compared to institutionalization was conducted.