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Supporting Family Caregivers: A New Model for a New Age. New Hampshire’s Caregiver Connections Project. Background. Where we’ve been Where we wanted to go Design of program model. Targeted Geographical Area. Background Statistics. Percent of Population by county age 65 or older*
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Supporting Family Caregivers: A New Model for a New Age New Hampshire’s Caregiver Connections Project
Background • Where we’ve been • Where we wanted to go • Design of program model
Background Statistics Percent of Population by county age 65 or older* Sullivan County 15.4% Coos County 18.4% Cheshire County 14.0% Grafton County 14.6% (Compared with 12.% in Merrimack County) *2006 data
Background Statistics A significant portion of the population in all four counties are age 55 and over: Coos 31% Cheshire 26% Grafton 27% Sullivan 28%
Background Statistics Coos and Sullivan Counties have the highest concentration of elderly who are ‘in need.’ “In Need” is defined as the population of individuals age 75 and over multiplied by the percentage of elderly that are in poverty plus the percentage of disabled individuals age 65 and over. Coos and Sullivan Counties have the highest per capita expenditure for nursing home costs and the lowest number of working age adults in the county per elderly resident in need.
Background Statistics Coos County has the highest poverty rate in NH of individuals age 65 and older - 12.5% Sullivan County - 8.8% Cheshire County - 6.3% Grafton County - 7.5% Statewide - 10% [Source: 1990 and 2000 US Bureau of the Census]
Background Statistics Per capita income in Coos County is the lowest in New Hampshire (less than $30,000) followed by Sullivan and Cheshire Counties ($35-39,999). Since the 1990’s Coos County has been experiencing a population decline as jobs became scarce, mills closed and younger individuals left seeking employment elsewhere. In the wake of the exodus there is a higher ratio of seniors to younger adults. [Source: Rural Policy Research Institute, Demographic and Economic Profile: New Hampshire, Updated October 2006.]
Project Goal The goal of the project is to improve and expand the local infrastructure to support family caregivers in the target region.
Project Objectives This will be accomplished by: establishing and strengthening community partnerships; building capacity to provide caregiver support services; providing training and support to at least 100 caregivers; identifying and training at least 100 caregiver support volunteers; establishing a caregiver support fund in each county that provides for flexible, responsive access to consumer-directed funds to support caregivers; and evaluating the effectiveness of the project.
Components of Program Caregiver Specialist : III-E funds Alzheimer's Disease Supportive Services program Flex funds
Components of program • Community organizer: • Focus groups • Organizing groups • Training Curriculum
Management Structure • Project team management • Advisory Committee • Sub-committees
Assistance provided & Concerns by Caregivers • Personal care 95% Falls 73% • Housekeeping 95% Forgetfulness 47% • Transportation 95% Incontinence 47% • Shopping 95% Wandering 86% • Safety Supervision 95% Depression 20% • Money Management 23% Agression 14%
Gender 71% Female 29% Male Marital Status 9% Single 79% Married 6% Widowed 6% divorced Relationship to Care Recipient 27% Wife 33% Daughter 14% Son 14% Husband 5% Daughter-in-Law 3% Granddaughter 3% friends or neighbors 8% live alone 80% Live with Care Recipient 18% Do not live with Care Recipient Preliminary Findings:Who are the Caregivers?
Gender 61% Female 39% Male Marital Status 1% Single 51% Married 43% Widowed 5% divorced Income 62% $0 - $20,000 33% $20,001 - $40,000 1% $40,001 - $60,000 Assets 56% $0 - $5,000 8% $5,001 - $10,000 8% $10,001 - $20,000 5% $20,001 - $30,000 23% Over $30.001 Preliminary Findings:Who are the Care Recipients?
Caregivers served • Coos 39 • Grafton 18 • Monadnock 39 • Sullivan 15
Caregiver Support • Caregivers Recipients • Home visit 205 105 • Other in person 57 61 • Telephone remote 215 256 • Information & referral 327 290
Recurring Themes THE TRANSITION • “It was just so unexpected it's not just his life but my whole life changed too.” • “Well it was gradual. The demarcation point was probably when we got the diagnosis.” LOSS • “What I miss most is him” SENSE OF OBLIGATION • “I told him I would keep him home sometimes I feel so confined but it's just something that I'm going to do.” • “It is rewarding to be spending time with her being able to give back for all the years she took care of me as a child.”
Recurring Themes SENSE OF OBLIGATION • “I told him I would keep him home sometimes I feel so confined but it's just something that I'm going to do.” • “It is rewarding to be spending time with her being able to give back for all the years she took care of me as a child.” ISOLATION AND LONELINESS “My family and children no longer come around” RELUCTANCE TO ASK FOR HELP “I don’t want to take from someone who may need it more than I” SOCIAL CAPITAL • Antoine and the ice storm: “I hardly knew this man. If I hadn't had the grant money to hire Antoine I would have done it myself and I would never have met Antoine.”
Contact Information • Coos County ServiceLink 603-752-6407 • Grafton County ServiceLink 603-542-5177 • Sullivan County ServiceLink 603-542-5177 • Monadnock Region ServiceLink 603-357-1922 • Servicelink 1-866-634-9412 • www.servicelink.org • www.nhcaregiverconnections.org