A behavioral health education series for older adults and their caregivers

Repeatedly as multidisciplinary professionals we are concerned about the individual patient we serve – especially as we consider their behavioral health needs and needs to facilitate mental vitality. The Caregiver Education Series, is a series of eight specific modules designed to enhance the coping of the caregiver and family members through scientific and educational resources. Each therapeutic workbook and accompanying CD provides an overview of information about a specific neurological or behavior aspect of a psychiatric disorder and provides the opportunity for the individual to develop an individualized action plan to better cope and adapt. The series designed through the use of the Self Efficacy Model (Bandura, 2005) and Prohaska and DiClemente's Stages of Change (1988) theoretical frameworks also utilizes a behavioral health education approach in the development of the series. The goal of this intervention was to provide health information which will help consumers and their families make informed health decisions and seek care based on informed decision making. Some of the module topics include Understanding the Care giving Role; Care giving and Depression; Care giving and People with Alzheimer's Disease; Care giving and People with Dementia. This presentation will showcase the specific modules of the series, and provide some preliminary data on the efficacy of this intervention as measured by various psychometric scales such as the CESD Depression inventory and Zarit's Caregiving Burden inventory. Preliminary data suggest that these tools have demonstrated some positive impact in improving caregiver burnout and decreasing depression levels for users.