Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T23:33:20.015Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Caring for Family Caregivers in Australia: A Model of Psychoeducational Support

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 November 2008

Cynthia L. Schultz ,
Kosmas X. Smyrnios ,
Carolyn F. Grbich  and
Noel C. Schultz
Cynthia L. Schultz
Affiliation:
Department of Behavioural Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia3083.
Kosmas X. Smyrnios
Affiliation:
Department of Behavioural Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia3083.
Carolyn F. Grbich
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosocial Sciences, Flinders University, South Australia, 5001.
Noel C. Schultz
Affiliation:
Director, Caring for Family Caregivers, Australia, and Minister, East Kew Uniting Church, 142 Normanby Road, East Kew, Victoria, Australia3102.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The present paper describes and traces the emergence of an innovative psychoeducational model of support for family caregivers of dependent elderly persons, its associated systematic evaluation and leadership training process, provides details of a small group programme and its underlying philosophy, and reports on outcome evaluation research ascertained from both quantitative and qualitative data analyses. Details of these analyses are presented within the context provided by a three-level model of support, which recruits and trains professionals from a range of disciplines to help families in caregiving situations. The 72 treatment and 29 waiting-list control subjects were assessed at pretreatment and at posttest on measures of anxiety and psychological well-being. Statistically significant differences emerged between the treatment and waiting-list control groups on these measures. Positive changes for programme participants were further demonstrated by contextual analysis of evaluative responses. Implications for practitioners, educators, and policy specialists, as well as for research and programme development are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 13 , Issue 1 , March 1993 , pp. 1 - 25
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abel, E. K. 1990. Informal care for the disabled elderly: a critique of recent literature. Research on Aging, 12, 139–157.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1985. Projections of the Populations for Australia, States and Territories 1984–2021 (Catalogue number 3222.0). Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.Google Scholar
Australian Bureau of Statistics. 1989. Disabled and Aged Persons, Australia 1988 (Catalogue number 4118.0). Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.Google Scholar
Australian Bureau of Statistics. 1990. Carers of the Handicapped at Home (Catalogue number 4122.0). Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.Google Scholar
Barusch, A. S. 1988. Problems and coping strategies of elderly spouse caregivers. The Gerontologist, 28, 677–685.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bass, D. M., Bowman, K. and Noelker, L. S. 1991. The influence of caregiving and bereavement support on adjusting to an older relative's death. The Gerontologist, 31, 32–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowers, B. J. 1987. Intergenerational caregiving: aging caregivers and their aging parents. Advances in Nursing Science, 9, 20–31.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bradburn, N. M. and Noll, C. E. 1969. The Structure of Psychological Well-being. Aldine, Chicago.Google Scholar
Braithwaite, V. 1990. Bound to Care. Allen and Unwin, Sydney.Google Scholar
Brody, E. 1990. Women in the Middle: Their Parent Care Years. Springer, New York.Google Scholar
Bureau of Immigration Research. 1990. Australia's population trends and prospects 1989. (Catalogue number 89 1140 8). Australian Government Printing Office.Google Scholar
Chappell, N. L. 1990. Aging and Social Care. In Binstock, R. H. and Shanas, E. (eds), Handbook of Aging and the Social Sciences, 3rd edn.Academic Press, New York.Google Scholar
Chappell, N. L. and Blandford, A. 1991. Informal and formal care: exploring the complimentarity. Ageing and Society, II, 299–317.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clark, N. M. and Rakowsky, W. 1983. Family caregivers of older adults: improving helping skills. The Gerontologist, 23, 637–641.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Doty, P. 1986. Family care of the elderly: The role of public policy. The Milbank Quarterly, 64, 34–75.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Edgar, D. 1992. Sharing the Caring: Rethinking Current Policies (Family Matters, no. 31, pp. 40–55). Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.Google Scholar
Folkman, S., Lazarus, R. S., Scott, P. and Novacek, J. 1987. Age differences in stress and coping processes. Psychology and Aging, 2, 171–184.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gallagher, D. E. 1985. Intervention strategies to assist caregivers of frail elders: current research and future research directions. In Eisdorfer, C. (ed.), Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics, vol. 5, pp. 249–282. Springer, New York.Google Scholar
Gallagher, D., Lovett, S. and Zeiss, A. 1989. Interventions with couples of frail elderly persons. In Ory, M. G. and Bond, K. (eds), Aging and Health Care, Routledge, London.Google Scholar
George, L. K. and Gwyther, L. P. 1986. Caregiver well-being: a multidimensional examination of family caregivers of demented adults. The Gerontologist, 26, 253–259.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gilleard, C. J., Belford, H., Gilleard, E., Whittick, J. E. and Gledhill, K. 1984. Emotional distress amongst the supporters of the elderly mentally infirm. British Journal of Psychiatry, 145, 172–177.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Greene, V. L. and Monahan, D. J. 1989. The effects of a support and education program on stress and burden among family caregivers to frail elderly persons. The Gerontologist, 29, 472–477.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Haley, W. E. 1989. Group intervention for dementia family caregivers: a longitudinal perspective. The Gerontologist, 29, 478–480.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Haley, W. E., Brown, S. L. and Levine, E. G. 1987. Experimental evaluation of the effectiveness of a group intervention for dementia caregivers. The Gerontologist, 27, 376–382.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hasselkus, B. R. 1988. Meaning in family caregiving: perspectives on caregiver/professional relationships. The Gerontologist, 28, 686–691.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hernandez, G. G. 1991. Not so benign neglect: Researchers ignore ethnicity in defining family caregiver burden and recommending services. The Gerontologist, 31, 271.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hicks, C. 1988. Who Cares: Looking After People at Home. Virago Press, London.Google Scholar
Jacobs, M. K. and Goodman, G. 1989. Psychology and self-help groups: predictions on a partnership. American Psychologist, 44, 536–545.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kendig, H. 1988. Ageing, intergenerational support, and social change in Australia. In Bergener, M., Ermini, M. and Stanelin, H. B. (eds), Crossroads in Ageing, Academic Press, London.Google Scholar
Kendig, H. 1990. Ageing, policies and politics. In Kendig, H. and McCallum, J. (eds), Grey Policy: Australian Policies for an Ageing Society, pp. 1–22. Allen & Unwin, Sydney.Google Scholar
Kendig, H., McVicar, G., Reynolds, A. and O'Brien, A. 1992. The Victorian Linkage Evaluation: Executive Summary (Tech. Rep. for the Department of Health, Housing and Community Services). La Trobe University, Lincoln Gerontology Centre, School of Health Sciences, and McVicar and Reynolds Pty. Ltd, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Lazarus, R. S. and Launier, R. 1978. Stress-related transactions. In Pervin, L. and Lewis, M. (eds), Perspectives in Interactional Psychology, Plenum, New York.Google Scholar
McCallum, J. and Gelfand, D. E. 1990. Ethnic Women in the Middle: A Focus Group Study of Daughters Caring for Older Migrants in Australia. Australian National University, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Canberra.Google Scholar
Midre, G. and Synak, B. 1989. Between family and state: ageing in Poland and Norway. Ageing and Society, 9, 241–259.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Montgomery, R. J. V. and Borgatta, E. F. 1989. The effects of alternative support strategies on family caregiving. The Gerontologist, 29, 457–464.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ory, M., Williams, T. F., Emr, M., Lebowitz, B., Rabins, P., Salloway, J., Sluss-Radbaugh, T., Wolff, E. and Zarit, S. 1985. Families, informal supports, and Alzheimer's disease. Research on Aging, 7, 623–644.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pearlin, L. I., Mullan, J. T., Semple, S. J. and Skaff, M. M. 1990. Caregiving and the stress process: An overview of concepts and their measures. The Gerontologist, 30, 584–594.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pearlin, L. I. and Schooler, C. 1978. The Structure of Coping. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 19, 2–21.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pratt, C. C., Schmall, S. W., Wright, S. and Cleland, M. 1985. Burden and coping strategies of caregivers to Alzheimer's patients. Family Relations, 34, 27–33.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schon, D. A. 1983. The Reflective Practitioner. Basic Books, New York.Google Scholar
Schultz, C. L. and Schultz, N. C. 1990a. As People Grow Older: Caregiving, Health, and Psychological Well-being. Lincoln Papers in Gerontology No. 5. La Trobe University, Bundoora, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Schultz, C. L. and Schultz, N. C. 1990b. Caring for family caregivers. Australian Journal of Marriage & Family, II, 84–93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schultz, C. L. and Schultz, N. C. 1990c. Caring for family caregivers: Group leader manual. Available from Highfields Caregiving, P.O. Box 55, Ivanhoe, Australia, 3079.Google Scholar
Schultz, C. L., Schultz, N. C. and Greenwood, K. M. 1992. Caring for family caregivers: a replication study. Australian Psychologist, 27, 181–185.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schultz, C. L., Smyrnios, K. X., Kemm, M. M., Bruce, E. J., Grbich, G. F. and Schultz, N. C. 1993. Caring for parent caregivers: fathers and mothers of children with intellectual disabilities. Australia and New Zealand Journal of Developmental Disabilities (in press).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schultz, C. L., Smyrnios, K. X., Schultz, N. C. and Grbich, G. F. 1993. Longitudinal outcomes of psychoeducational support for family caregivers of dependent elderly persons. Australian Psychologist, 28, (1) (in press).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schultz, N. C. and Schultz, C. L. 1990. The Key to Caring. Longman Cheshire, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Schultz, N. C., Schultz, C. L., Smyrnios, K. X. and Grbich, G. F. 1993. Caring for family caregivers through group leadership training. Australian Journal of Marriage & Family, 14, (1) (in press).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sheehan, N. W. and Nuttall, P. 1988. Conflict, emotion, and personal strain among family caregivers. Family Relations, 37, 92–98.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spielberger, C. D. 1983. Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory STAI (Form γ, ‘Self Evaluation Questionnaire’). Consulting Psychologists Press, Palo Alto, CA.Google Scholar
Spielberger, C. D., Gorsuch, R. L. and Lushene, R. F. 1970. Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (‘Self evaluation questionnaire’). Consulting Psychologists Press, Palo Alto, CA.Google Scholar
Toseland, R. W., Rossiter, C. M. and Labrecque, M. S. 1989. The effectiveness of peer-led and professionally led groups to support family caregivers. The Gerontologist, 29, 465–471.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Toseland, R. W. and Rossiter, C. M. 1989. Group interventions to support family caregivers: A review and analysis. The Gerontologist, 29, 438–448.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ungerson, C. 1987. Policy is Personal: Sex, Gender, and Informal Care. Tavistock, London.Google Scholar
Walker, A. J. and Pratt, C. C. 1991. Daughters' help to mothers: intergenerational aid versus caregiving. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 53, 3–12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Watson, E. and Mears, J. 1990. Women in the Middle: Care-Givers with a Double Burden of Care. MacArthur Institute of Higher Education, Cambelltown, New South Wales.Google Scholar
Wells, Y. D., Jorm, A. F., Jordan, F. and Lefroy, R. 1990. Effects on care-givers of medical day care programmes for dementia sufferers. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 24, 82–90.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Whittick, J. E. 1989. Dementia and mental handicap: attitudes, emotional distress and caregiving. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 62, 181–189.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilson, H. S. 1989. Family caregiving for a relative with Alzheimer's dementia: coping with negative choices. Nursing Research, 38, 94–98.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zarit, S. H., Anthony, C. R. and Boutselis, M. 1987. Interventions with caregivers of dementia patients: comparison of two approaches. Psychology and Aging, 2, 225–232.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zarit, S. H., Todd, P. A. and Zarit, J. M. 1986. Subjective burden of husbands and wives as caregivers: a longitudinal study. The Gerontologist, 26, 260–266.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zarit, S. R. 1989. Do we need another stress and caregiving study? The Gerontologist, 29, 147–148.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed