title: A stress-busting program for family caregivers.
abstract: Aging baby boomers, longer life spans, and rising levels of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) will result in a caregiver crisis in the near future. The ways in which caregivers deal with stresses related to caregiving will be critical to both their own well-being and their ability to care for others. The purpose of this article is to describe the Stress-Busting Program (SBP) for family caregivers and its effectiveness. The essential components of the SBP are education, stress management, problem solving, and support delivered in a group setting for 9 weeks. Results of the SBP indicate that throughout the program, caregivers experienced significant improvements in general health, vitality, social function, and mental health scores and decreases in anxiety, anger/hostility, depression, perceived stress, and caregiver burden. The SBP is a cost-effective health-promotion strategy for caregivers who have substantial ongoing stress.
authors: School of Nursing and Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, USA. lewissl@uthscsa.edu
authors: Sharon L
authors: SL
authors: Lewis
authors: Denise
authors: D
authors: Miner-Williams
authors: Allen
authors: A
authors: Novian
authors: Monica I
authors: MI
authors: Escamilla
authors: Paula H
authors: PH
authors: Blackwell
authors: Jennifer Hale
authors: JH
authors: Kretzschmar
authors: Lyda C
authors: LC
authors: Arévalo-Flechas
authors: Peter N
authors: PN
authors: Bonner
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013781:Texas