title: Accessible support for family caregivers of seniors with chronic conditions: from isolation to inclusion.
abstract: Accessible support programs can improve health outcomes for family caregivers of older relatives with a chronic condition. Over the course of 6 months, 27 experienced family caregivers provided weekly support via the telephone to 66 individuals, either new family caregivers of seniors recently diagnosed with stroke or newly vulnerable family caregivers (i.e., facing increasing demands from the deterioration of their senior relative's condition) of seniors with Alzheimer's disease. Qualitative data documented the perceived impact of the intervention, including increased satisfaction with support, coping skills, caregiving competence and confidence, and decreased caregiver burden and loneliness. Caregivers identified varied support processes that overcame support deficits in their social networks. These processes can facilitate replication in future research and inform practice, programs, and policies.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nusing, University of Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barnfather
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Neufeld
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Letourneau
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology; D002170:Canada; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012934:Social Isolation; D012944:Social Support; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology