Powerful Tools for Caregivers
Presented by:
Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging, Wisconsin Department of Health
Caregiving Programming
• Individual & community education• Assistance gaining access to services
• Individual counseling and support groups • Respite care
• Supplemental Services to complement care provided by caregivers
• Funding available – Title III-E (NFCSP) – Title III-D
Why Needed?
• While caregiving often rewarding, can be stressful.
• Caregivers at high risk of depression and stress-related illnesses.
• Can be physically, emotionally and financially exhausting.
• Often overwhelmed by taking care of others • Most family caregivers don’t realize
importance of taking care of selves • PTC focuses on needs of caregivers.
The PTC Program
• For family caregivers • 2.5 hours/week
• Six weeks
• Community workshop
• Led by two trained co-leaders
• Over 1,700 class leaders in 32 states • Has reached over 70,000 caregivers
The PTC Program
• Evidence-based
• Meets AoA’s highest standard
• Based on Stanford CDSMP and its success
• Developed by team of professionals in Portland, Oregon in 1998; been offered since 2000
• Developed over 3 years of:
– Pilot-testing – Refinement
Researched.
Evidence-based to Improve:
• Caregiver’s self-care behaviors
• Management of Emotions
• Self-Efficacy
Gives caregivers tools to:
• Reduce stress, guilt, anger and depression • Improve self-confidence
• Better communicate feelings and concerns • Manage their time, set goals and solve
problems
• Master caregiving transitions
• Increase ability to make tough decisions
• Communicate effectively with care receiver, family and health care providers
Target Population
• Family (not facility) caregivers, e.g.,
– Spouses/partners
– Adult children of aging parents
• Regardless of living situation of care receiver;
• Whether care receiver is living:
– At home alone, with others or with caregiver – At home or in a facility
– In same town or across the country
Weekly Contents
Week 1: Taking Care of You
Week 2: Identifying and Reducing Personal
Stress
Week 3: Communicating Feelings, Needs, and
Concerns
Week 4: Communicating in Challenging
Situations
Week 5: Learning From Our Emotions
PTC in Wisconsin
• Begun in 2000 by UW-Extension
• Moved to Wisconsin Alliance for Family
Caregiving
• 2009: Moved to Bethany Homes
– Twice/year Leader Trainings
Leader Qualifications & Characteristics
• Health care, aging network professionals or lay • Experience with caregiving
• Experience leading groups of adults
• Agree to attend two full-day Leader training • Agree to follow PTC script
• Agree to lead at least one workshop each year • Agree to work with a sponsoring organization • Agree to follow WIHA administrative
WIHA collects data on:
• Leaders
• Workshops
• Participants
• Why?
–Funders
–Policymakers
–Program Planning
Support for Leaders
• Listserv
• WIHA Leader Newsletter
• Regular Leader conference calls
• Technical assistance
Leader Training
• Two full days – must attend both
• Learn caregiver support concepts
• Learn curriculum of PTC program
• Learn group facilitation
• Learn WIHA protocols
• Upon completion, receive PTC Leader
license from PTC national office
First WIHA Leader Training
• November 7-8, 2013
• Madison
• Master Trainers: Lynne Scheinoha and Deb
Brunner
• $200/person
• Includes $100 license
• Includes all materials needed to lead
workshop
Leader Training – to apply
• Leader Application – link on WIHA website
• Attend in pairs, unless already a leader in county • 20 person limit
• Complete Planning and Implementation Plan • Commit to requirements
– Stick to script – Have a co-leader
– Have sponsoring organization
– Plan first workshop to start by 02/01/14 – Lead at least one workshop each year – Follow WIHA administrative protocols
