title: Community-based "powerful tools" intervention enhances health of caregivers.
abstract: Family caregiving is prevalent and may have adverse impacts on health, particularly for elder caregivers who tend to have chronic health conditions which need ongoing self-management. Interventions that empower family caregivers to take care of themselves are needed. This study examined the impact on caregivers of participation in a self-care skill-building, self-efficacy enhancing, community-based program called powerful tools for caregiving (PTC). We assessed health-risk behaviors, self-care, and psychological well-being among 118 adult caregivers who participated in PTC in western Washington state between July 2001 and June 2004, about half of whom were aged 65 or older. Health-risk behaviors were reduced and self-care and psychological well-being improved significantly, overall and for each stratum of age (> or =65 years of age versus <65).
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Washington, 325 9th Avenue, Box 359755, Seattle, WA 98104, USA.
authors.forename: Chang Won
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Sally Sizer
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Fitts
authors.forename: Susy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Favaro
authors.forename: Pat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Phelan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D016896:Treatment Outcome