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The effectiveness of a telephone support program for caregivers of frail older adults
- Authors:
- SMITH Tamara L., TOSELAND Ronald W.
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 46(5), October 2006, pp.620-629.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a telephone support group program on spouses and adult child caregivers of frail older adults. The Telephone Support Group (TSG) model is a multicomponent group program offered in 12 weekly, 90-minute group sessions. It includes emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies, education, and support. Thirty-six spouses and 61 adult children were recruited for the study and randomly assigned to TSG or to usual services. Participants were assessed before and after the completion of TSG or usual services. The results indicated that, for adult child caregivers, TSG was more effective than usual services in reducing burden, depression, social support, and pressing problems, and increasing knowledge and use of community services. They found no significant differences for spouse caregivers. TSG showed itself to be an effective means of delivering support to adult child caregivers of frail older adults but not to spouses. More research is needed about how to make TSG effective for spouse caregivers.
The impact of a caregiver health education program on health care costs
- Authors:
- TOSELAND Ronald W., SMITH Tamara L.
- Journal article citation:
- Research on Social Work Practice, 16(1), January 2006, pp.9-19.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This study examined health care cost outcomes resulting from a health education program (HEP), a social work intervention for spouse caregivers of frail older adults in the United States. One-hundred five spouses were recruited and randomly assigned to HEP or usual care (UC). Health care utilization and cost data were collected from the HMO's management information system for both the spouse caregivers and care recipients in quarterly increments for a 30-month period. The results indicate that HEP was cost-effective. Caregivers and care recipients who participated in HEP had significantly lower overall health care costs and significantly lower outpatient costs than those who participated in usual care. It is concluded that HEP is a cost-effective intervention for caregivers and care recipients receiving medical care from a staff-model HMO.