1. Hello, I’m pleased to be with you to talk about Powerful Tools for Caregivers. My name is ____________________. I first learned about this amazing program ______________________________ (from a friend or participant, when trained as a class leader, etc.).
I want to share some information about caregivers and then more specifically about Powerful Tools for Caregivers and how it can help caregivers thrive, not just survive. I’ll conclude by suggesting ways you might get involved and how to find out further information about the program.

2. Who are the caregivers Visual 2
Who are the caregivers? Are you a caregiver? Raise your hand if you provide any of the following assistance to a spouse, relative, friend or neighbor.
assist with transportation to the doctor
provide light housekeeping
do the grocery shopping and/or fix meals
offer social stimulation
help with bill paying
provide a place to live
manage legal or insurance matters
offer emotional support
handle personal care
If you raised your hand to any of these, then you are a caregiver. And if you didn’t, do you know someone who is doing any of these tasks for a loved one?
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3. Caregivers
29% of the U.S. population provides care for a chronically ill, disabled, or aged family member or friend during any given year
Who are the caregivers? A caregiver is defined as someone who helps a spouse, relative or friend with the things he/she cannot do for oneself due to the disabling effects of a chronic medical condition or the aging process in general.
The Family Caregiver Alliance says the term caregiver refers to anyone who provides assistance to someone else who is, in some degree, incapacitated and needs help.
29% of the U.S. population provides care for a chronically ill, disabled, or aged family member or friends during any given year.
National Alliance for Caregiving/AARP 2009
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4. Caregivers
20 hours per week is the average number of hours family caregivers spend caring for their loved ones % of caregivers provide 40 hours of care a week or more
Who are the caregivers? Informal caregiver and family caregiver are terms that refer to unpaid individuals such as family members, friends, and neighbors who provide care. (Family Caregiver Alliance)
How much time are caregivers spending caring for loved ones? Caregivers spend on the average of 20 hours per week caring for a loved one. And 13% of caregivers provide 40 hours or more of care per week.
National Alliance for Caregiving/AARP 2009
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5. Caregivers 36% of family caregivers care for a parent
7 out of 10 caregivers are caring for loved ones over 50 years old
Who are the caregivers? Over 1/3, 36% of family caregivers, care for a parent. Seven out of 10 caregivers are caring for loved ones over the age of 50.
National Alliance for Caregiving/AARP 2009
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6. Caregivers 6 in 10 family caregivers are employed Visual 6
Who are the caregivers? A significant number of people in the workforce are providing care for family members. The majority of family caregivers are employed – either full-time or part-time. Recent statistics indicated 6 in 10 family caregivers are employed.
Additionally, 66% of the employed family caregivers have had to make some adjustments in their work life, from reporting late to work to giving up work entirely. One in 5 family caregivers have had to take a leave of absence. This impacts both the family and the employer.
National Alliance for Caregiving/Met Life Mature Market Institute 2010
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7. Caregivers An estimated 59% - 75% of caregivers are female Visual 7
Who are the caregivers? Statistic after statistic indicates more women than men are caregivers. Female caregivers tend to handle the personal tasks (bathing, toileting, dressing, etc.) while male caregivers are more apt to help with finances, household repairs, arrange care, and so forth.
National Alliance for Caregiving/Met Life Mature Market Institute 2010
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8. Caregivers The majority of caregivers are 35 - 64 years old Visual 8
Who are the caregivers? A caregiver can be found across the age span but the majority are years old. This increases the likelihood that the caregiver will also be employed and managing all the tasks associated with raising a family.
National Alliance for Caregiving/AARP 2004
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9. Caregivers Caregivers spend an average of 4.3 years providing care
Who are the caregivers? A caregiving role might last less than a year or be many years. On the average, a caregiver spends 4.3 years providing care.
National Alliance for Caregiving/AARP 2004
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10. Caregivers
42% of caregivers live within 20 minutes of the care recipient
24% of care recipients live with the caregiver
Who are the caregivers? Many caregivers live within close proximity to the care recipient. Another 19% live within an hour. However, 15% of caregivers live more than an hour from the care recipient.
Long distance caregivers are those who live more than an hour from the care recipient. This could mean significant travel time.
National Alliance for Caregiving/AARP 2004
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11. Typical caregiver
The typical family caregiver is a 49-year-old woman caring for her widowed 69-year-old mother who does not live with her. The caregiver is married and employed.
Who is a typical caregiver? She is a 49-year-old woman caring for her widowed 69-year-old mother who does not live with her. The caregiver is married and employed. Likely the caregiver is juggling multiple roles – perhaps as a spouse, mother, employee. This gives you an idea of the stresses associated with caregiving.
National Alliance for Caregiving/AARP 2009
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12. Impact on caregivers
Caring for an older adult with a chronic illness can be: physically, emotionally, and financially draining
Research indicates the impact on caregivers is three-fold: physical, emotional, and financial.
The figures do not mean this is true for every caregiver, but physical, emotional, and/or financial effects are more likely.
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13. Impact on caregivers Studies show caregivers:
use more prescription drugs
have higher levels of depression
make 46% more physician visits
can become isolated
can experience loss of self, time, and money
Studies show the impact on caregivers.
For example:
23% of family caregivers caring for loved ones for 5 years or more report their health is fair or poor.
40%–70% have clinically significant symptoms of depression.
47% of working caregivers say an increase in caregiving expenses has caused them to use up all or most of their savings.
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14. What is Powerful Tools for Caregivers?
For family caregivers of older adults
Delivered in a 6 week program
Is an educational program, not a support group
Focuses on learning skills for self-care
Led by two certified
class leaders
What can a caregiver do to take care of him/herself? Consider participating in the Powerful Tools for Caregivers class being offered by Iowa State University Extension and ______________. Powerful Tools for Caregivers is offered nationwide and classes are led by two certified class leaders.
Family caregivers of older adults are the intended audience. This educational program is delivered weekly for 6 weeks. Classes are 2-1/2 hour sessions with an alternative 90 minute option, primarily used in a worksite setting.
The focus is on learning skills for self-care. Regardless of how a person becomes a caregiver or how much care he/she provides, it is important for a person to take care of him/herself. The program is not a support group, nor is it for the care recipient. The program is for family caregivers.
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15. Program assumptions Caregivers face similar problems
Caregiving impacts a caregiver’s life
Care receivers benefit from caregivers practicing self-care
Powerful Tools for Caregivers is based upon some assumptions.
First, regardless of specific circumstances, caregivers face similar problems. And in turn, caregiving impacts a caregiver’s life.
Caregivers who practice self-care are likely to be better able to handle the stresses of caregiving which can influence the care given.
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16. Program assumptions Caregivers are effective class leaders
Group process is important
Class leaders are apt to have been caregivers themselves. Thus, once trained in the program, they are equipped to effectively lead classes.
Although this is an educational program, not a support group, class participants give and receive a lot of support from each other.
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17. Tools for self-care Tools for reducing personal stress
Tools for changing negative self-talk
Tools for communicating your feelings and needs to others
Caregivers have the opportunity to learn a variety of tools to help them thrive as a caregiver, not just survive the experience.
There are tools for reducing personal stress; changing negative self-talk; and communicating feelings and needs to others.
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18. Tools for self-care Tools for setting limits and asking for help
Tools for dealing with emotions
Tools for making tough caregiving decisions
Other tools are for: setting limits and asking for help; dealing with emotions; and making tough caregiving decisions.
Participants are encouraged to adapt the tools by using individual action plans.
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19. Evaluations from participants
Significant improvement in behaviors
Increased exercise
Use of relaxation techniques
Health self-care
Powerful Tools for Caregivers has been through extensive and continuous development and evaluation. Evaluations indicate positive outcomes on caregiver health for a diverse group of caregivers.
The impact includes significant improvement in behaviors: increased exercise, use of relaxation techniques, and health self-care.
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20. Evaluations from participants
Improved emotions
Reduced anger
Reduced guilt
Reduced depression
Difficult emotions are a part of caregiving. Participants learn to listen, learn, and take appropriate action with the difficult emotions they experience.
Anger, guilt, and depression are generally the most difficult emotions for caregivers. Evaluations show participants have improved emotions with reduced anger, guilt, and depression.
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21. Evaluations from participants
Increased self-confidence in coping with caregiving demands
Finally, participants say they have increased self-confidence in coping with the demands of caregiving. They know how to access community services and make use of them.
Increased use of community services
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22. Additional information
Go to:
families/ptc-tools
Take time to educate yourself about caregiving.
If you are a caregiver, consider signing up and participating in a Powerful Tools for Caregivers class so you can learn tools to thrive as a caregiver.
Take action to support this program in your community.Volunteer to serve on a planning committee, offer financial support, become trained as a class leader.
For additional information, check out the Powerful Tools for Caregivers web site.
Optional: To give you a sense of what the classes are like, I want to share an activity from class 2.
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