A program of the western NH ServiceLink Resource Centers & their community partners

1. 10167 Coös County ● Grafton County Sullivan County ● Monadnock Region Caregiver Connections “Uniting Communities to Support Family Caregivers” A program of the western NH ServiceLink Resource Centers & their community partners

2. Caregiver Connections: Partnerships at Every Level Project Schematic Oversight: Steering Committee (leaders from each County); Monadnock Collaborative (fiscal agent); state level experts Management: ServiceLink Resource Center Managers, Evaluators (IOD), NH Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services (State Funder), Project Staff & Consultants Leadership Project Coordinator Monadnock SLRC (Monadnock Collaborative) Grafton Co. SLRC (Grafton Co. Senior Citizens Council, Inc.) Coos Co. SLRC (Tri-County CAP) Sullivan Co. SLRC (Monadnock Collaborative) Caregiver Specialist Caregiver Specialist Community Organizer Community Organizer Caregiver Specialist Caregiver Specialist Family Caregivers Implementation Community Networks Community Networks Community Networks Community Networks

3. “Uniting Communities to Support Family Caregivers” Direct Service Community Organizing • Caregiver assessment, support • Powerful Tools for Caregivers • Flex Funds • Network development • Volunteer training • Community-based supports Evaluation

4. Caregiver Specialist Role & Empowerment of Family Caregiver Counseled caregivers make efficient use of support resources

5. Training Volunteers Preparing communities to support the caregiver

6. Community Partnerships Meeting each community where they are

7. Coos vs. Sullivan: What We Have Learned

8. Caregiver Teleconnection: Lessons Learned 2012 10195

9. Project Overview A multi-faceted approach that supports caregivers through technology (tele-learning) and human interaction. Targets caregivers who are socially isolated and below median income. Builds upon existing resources in the community. Creates physical and virtual caregiver one-stops. Bi-lingual, culturally appropriate

10. Grant Parnters • Alamo Service Connection (ADRC) • Bexar Area Agency on Aging • Caregiver SOS by the WellMed Charitable Foundation • Jewish Family Services • WellMed Charitable Foundation

11. Program Features • Telephone Learning and support • Teleconnection Registration and Information Line • Online Caregiver Channels • Caregiver Resource Centers (Caregiver SOS) • Care Coordination

12. Statistics: May 2010 through January 31, 2012 Callers • 9,217 calls have been received by the call center • 76.8% have been from females; 61% have identified as Hispanic or Latino Website • 619,772 web sessions on the Alamo Service Connection website Teleconnection • 97 Teleconnection sessions; 1487 total Teleconnection participants • 69% live in the same household (of 391 sampled participants) Direct Services • 214 direct service initial clients to Jan 31, 2011 (w/ 71% follow-up rate.) • Average participant is 61 yrs old; 64% live in same household; 78% provide daily care. • CRS score: reduced by 4.3 points (average) between initial and follow up. • Zarit 4-item Burden score: reduced by 2.1 points (average) between initial and follow up.

13. Lessons Learned • Caregivers don’t self-identify is still the number one barrier to program enrollment • Caregivers don’t have a similar background or experience so it’s key to acknowledge their knowledge base and ability to support each other. • Never underestimate the power to our voices to reach isolated caregivers • Caregivers are resources too. It’s important that they share what they know with each other

14. Lessons Learned Continued • Our telephone program works well for groups as well as individuals. • We haven’t perfected our outreach to Spanish-speaking individuals. We regularly offer 2 sessions per month in Spanish to have a consistent presence and build momentum. • Feedback from caregivers is essential not only for the program evaluation, but to improve the program. • How did they hear about us? • What did they expect versus what they really learned? • What didn’t they like? • What do they want to hear in the future.

15. Lessons Learned Continued 80% of sampled Teleconnection participants: they shared / connected. 56% were new participants; 79% would participate again. Themes emerged from participants relevant to self-efficacy - caregiver self-perception of abilities, effectiveness, and problem solving - supporting the goals of the Teleconnection platform – to promote peer to peer sharing and acquisition of knowledge. “It's an interesting concept for sharing information to caregivers who are so stressed for time and may be unable to get out of the home due to their caregiving responsibilities.” -Kelley, caregiver and first time participant “I was able tolearn some new techniques to try from one of the other caregivers on the call.” -Cay, caregiver and previous participant (3-5 sessions) “I enjoyed the tele-learning session experience which offered a comfortable, open and inviting environment, especially when able to punch in from the comfort of the couch. -David, caregiver and first time participant

16. Caregiver SOS E-Newsletter Distributed on a State-wide Level Over 3,800 persons on distribution list Vehicle to distribute information on all aspects of caregiving: physical health, mental health, spirtual health, financial well-being

17. Caregiver SOS-On Air by WCF • New Radio Show on KLUP • Hosted by Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial • Broadcast Sundays @ 6 pm • No cost – Sponsored by Elmcroft Assisted Living • Opportunity to showcase the Teleconnection, Caregiver SOS centers, and our partners

18. Caregiver SOS On Living Monthly Caregiver SOS Segment on the WOAI Morning Show the 2nd Monday of every month Began in November 2011 Opportunity to showcase Caregiver Teleconenction and Caregiver SOS to the community at large

19. Sustainability Options WCF as national licensing entity Grants (government, foundation, academia) Sponsorships for Caregiver SOS newsletters and radio, Caregiver Teleconnection Fundraising Campaigns (5K Run, Golf Tournament) Educational seminars and publications on health and caregiving

20. 10200 Developing a Rural Community Based Caregiver Network and Support System Eastern Area Agency on Aging Maine Noëlle Merrill, Executive Director Deb Poulton, Project Director University of Maine Center on Aging Lenard Kaye, Executive Director Jennifer Crittenden, Evaluation Coordinator

21. Background An already collaborating group of invested entities decided to work together to meet the challenge of the rapidly aging population of the most rural, underserved and low income region of Maine

22. What We Learned About Caregivers Needs • Caregivers don’t often know they are caregivers Information needs to be available all the time in a wide variety of forms and in all sorts of places • It’s all “on-the-job training” Need training and support to help family caregivers with techniques for hands-on care Education on specific medical disorders • The provider network needs to be “one-stop shopping“ • We need to offer a wide array of available and affordable resources

23. Important Impacts • Expansion of hours and days in a medical model adult day service • Skills building training for caregivers • Affordable navigational services • Simple tools like emergency information tool kit about care recipient, resource materials, online assessment • Regular in-home Respite

24. Important Impacts • Broad and regular use of media • Connecting with the broad array of providers who work with caregivers • Expanding caregiver relief as with massage therapy, support get togethers • Personalized outreach to special caregiver groups such as those caring for veterans of various different era conflicts

25. Important Impacts • Include students of all levels from high school to masters programs to inspire interest in the field of geriatrics • Involve high level students in adult day services to increase capacity and lower costs • Its important to offer male caregivers different types of support • Offering small fixes provides large relief

26. Final Thoughts • Caregivers don’t easily relinquish their job. If they don’t have other family members to help, they seldom have paid staff • We are reaching more caregivers earlier, before they are in crisis, and in some of the most remote regions of our state • Involving the medical community, the social service providers and educational entities in our project has broadened options for caregivers to do their job longer