1. Powerful Tools for Caregivers: Powerful Intervention for Long Term Caregiving Debra Laine Special Program Developer Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging Becky Hagen-Jokela U of MN Extension Educator Family Resource Management

2. TODAY :  Importance of caregivers, caring for self in long term caregiving situations  Explore some strategies of positive self-care through sampling Powerful Tools for Caregivers  Take a deeper look at Powerful Tools for Caregivers

3. DEMOGRAPHICS  Increased numbers of older adults  Smaller family size  Dispersed families  Increased numbers of people living alone  Workforce growing smaller 3

4. Between 2010 and 2035  Number of Minnesotans age 65+ will more than double, 677,000 to 1.4 million.  Number of Minnesotans age 85+ will more than double, 222,000. 4

5. Between 2010 and 2035  Average Family Size  In 1940, 3.8 members  In 2000, 3.1 members  By 2040, will have 2.8 members 5

6. Family Caregivers  A family member, friend, or neighbor who takes care of a frail or disabled older person.  Dressing, feeding, bathing, grocery shopping, transportation, handling finances, medication management, attending dr. appointments 6

7. Family Caregivers  Amount of care  20.4 hours each week  Average of 4.6 years  Care recipient  Aging (15%)  Alzheimer’s disease, confusion, dementia or forgetfulness (15%)

8. Family Caregivers  On average caregivers provide care recipients help with two ADLs.  All caregivers perform at least one IADL. On average caregivers assist with four IADLs and this has remained constant over time.

9. Family Caregivers  27% say they need help balancing their work and family responsibilities or need help finding time for themselves (31%)  32% say they are the caregiver who provides the most unpaid care and 43% feel they did not have a choice to take on this role.

10. Caregivers in MN  736,000 Caregivers in MN  1 in 6 people  508,000 support someone age 65 or older  228,000 care for a child or adult (under 65) with a disabling condition. 10

11. Caregivers in MN  60% of caregivers are working, most full time  Typical caregiver in MN: 50 year old female caring for a 77 year old female  50 year old female caring for a 77 year old female 11

12. Burdens Associated with Caregiving  Time deficits  Emotional strain  Health problems  Mental health problems  Financial burdens  Retirement insecurity 12

13. Benefits of Caregiver Support  Reduce Caregiver stress and depression  Increases knowledge & skill sets  Increases coping & resiliency  Improves continuity of care & outcomes for older adults  Help avert crisis situations & calls to care managers

15. MANAGING STRESS

17. Don’t ignore it—Do address it! #19 STEPS TO MANAGING STRESS 1 Recognize warning signs EARLY. 2Identify sources of stress. 3Identify what YOU can and cannot change. 4Take action.

19. Ignore it—it festers #22 RESULTS OF NEGLECTING STRESS Increased health problemsIncreased health problems Disrupted relationshipsDisrupted relationships “Burnout”“Burnout” DepressionDepression Decreased quality of careDecreased quality of care

21. Recognize, then remove barriers #25 BARRIERS TO TAKING ACTION Can’t think of what to do.Can’t think of what to do. Choosing a difficult activity.Choosing a difficult activity. Postponing stress reduction.Postponing stress reduction.

23. Thrive while caregiving #14 PARTS OF AN ACTION PLAN 1.Something YOU want to do 2.Reachable 3.Behavior specific 4.Answer these questions: What?What? How much?How much? When?When? How often?How often? 5.Confidence level

25. POWERFUL TOOLS FOR CAREGIVERS PROGRAM  “Caring for an older adult with a chronic illness can be physically, emotionally, and financially draining.”  Powerful Tools for Caregivers can help!

26. WHAT IS POWERFUL TOOLS FOR CAREGIVERS?  Educational program – not a support group  6-week series of classes  Focus on caregiver self- care  Scripted curriculum  Train-the-Trainer model

27. The Program  Developed over 3 years of pilot testing, refinement, and evaluative research (Legacy Caregiver Services in Portland, Oregon)  Offered since 1998. (Grant funding)  Award winning program: 2007/National Family Caregiver Award; 2009/Network of Multicultural Aging Excellence Award.

28. The Program  As of 2011, over 1,700 Class Leaders have been trained in more than 30 states.  PTC materials have reached over 70,000 caregivers !

29. Powerful Tools is:  Proven to produce results  Easily implemented  Attractive to funding sources  Based on solid research  Well-packaged

30. PTC Outcomes Improved:  Self-Care Behaviors  Management of Emotions  Self-Confidence  Use of Community Resources

31. Thrive VS Survive! Learn new self-care tools:  DESC  AKIDO

32. Keeps conversation on track #45 Describe observable behavior or problem Express how you feel Specify what needs to happen Consequence 4 STEPS OF ASSERTIVENESS: DESC

33. Find common ground  Harmony #47 1Align – What does the person need? 2Agree – Look for areas of agreement. 3Redirect – Move the conversation forward. 4Resolve – Seek to resolve differences. AIKIDO COMMUNICATION

34. Self-Care Tools:  Reduce personal stress  Change negative self-talk  Communicate needs to family members/healthcare/service providers  Communicate in challenging situations

35. Self-Care Tools:  Recognize messages in their emotions  Deal with difficult feelings  Make tough caregiving decisions (placement, driving issues, or finances)  The Caregiver Helpbook (2 nd ed.)

36. Results Program research, evaluation and revision has lead to continued:  Value and success.  Positive impact on caregiver health: -Rural, ethnic minorities -Rural, ethnic minorities -Adult children of aging parents -Adult children of aging parents -Well-spouses/partners -Well-spouses/partners -Caregivers at differing stages in caregiving roles -Caregivers at differing stages in caregiving roles -Differing living, financial, and educational backgrouunds -Differing living, financial, and educational backgrouunds

37. Contact Information  Debra Laine Special Program Developer  218-529-7534  dlaine@ardc.org dlaine@ardc.org  221 West First Street Duluth, MN 55802  Becky Hagen Jokela University of MN Extension Educator,  Becky Hagen Jokela University of MN Extension Educator, F amily Resource Management  218-726-6477  hagen022@umn.edu hagen022@umn.edu  179 University Rd. Cloquet, MN 55720