A Stress‐Busting Program for Family Caregivers |
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| Authors: | Sharon L. Lewis PhD RN FAAN Denise Miner‐Williams PhD RN CHPN Allen Novian PhD LMFT LPC Monica I. Escamilla MS PsyD Paula H. Blackwell MT ASCP Jennifer Hale Kretzschmar BBS Lyda C. Arévalo‐Flechas PhD RN Peter N. Bonner MS |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Sharon L. Lewis, PhD RN FAAN, is a professor at the School of Nursing and Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and a clinical nurse scientist at South Texas Veterans Health Care System in San Antonio, TX.;2. Denise Miner‐Williams, PhD RN CHPN, is a geriatrics research fellow at the Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center South Texas Veterans Health Care System in San Antonio, and an assistant research professor at the School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in San Antonio, TX.;3. Allen Novian, PhD LMFT LPC, is a program coordinator at the School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in San Antonio, TX.;4. Monica I. Escamilla, MS PsyD(c), is a research assistant at the School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in San Antonio, TX.;5. Paula H. Blackwell, MT ASCP, is a senior research assistant at the School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in San Antonio, TX.;6. Jennifer Hale Kretzschmar, BBS, is senior research data management coordinator at the School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in San Antonio, TX.;7. Lyda C. Arévalo‐Flechas, PhD RN, is a John A. Hartford Foundation Claire M. Fagin fellow and clinical assistant professor at the School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in San Antonio, TX.;8. Peter N. Bonner, MS, is a statistician at Data and Statistics, Inc., in Boerne, TX. |
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| 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. |
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| Keywords: | Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease and related dementias caregiving intervention stress |
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