This is an exploratory qualitative study to determine the stress and coping mechanisms of older African American caregivers who are primary caregivers to other older African Americans. Instruments will be developed to focus on life skills and self sufficiency and identifying the skill base and economic requirements for older home health care providers. Phase I will describe effective and ineffective life skills and self-sufficiency strategies of the caregivers. Phase II will focus on developing an educational instructional manual which focuses on stress and effecting coping strategies of older African American caregivers and a training manual which builds on the identified strengths and obstacles to the self-sufficiency of older adults.
The research involves focus groups and observations as the primary means of collection to generating qualitative data on the stress and coping mechanisms of elderly caregivers. The focus group format will provide the researcher with the ability to explore a range of questions and issues with the elderly caregivers in order to learn about perceptions of the burden and impact of care on individuals and family members. It covers both urban and rural populations. Other aspects that will will be discussed are perceptions about the appropriate role of government, family, and neighbors in caregiving. The overall sample of 150 participants will be drawn from two sites: Washington, D.C., and Putnam County, Florida. A sample population list will be identified from local aging organizations in both study areas.
Learning Objectives: Identify the stress and coping mechanisms of elderly African Americans as Intragenerational caregivers of aged persons. Provide an understanding of the nature of care provided to elderly African Americans by African American elderly care givers. Identify effective strategies for training elderly caregivers. Provide an understanding of the feasibility of home-based care for elderly African Americans. Provide a model curriculum and instructional manual that can have both urban and rural domestic applications
Keywords: Elderly, Minority Research
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: - Historically Black Colleges and Universities
- African Americans Community Based Health Organizations
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.