Date

5-2025

Document Type

Capstone Project (Open Access)

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Department

Health, Human Services and Public Policy

Major

Collaborative Health and Human Services

Abstract

Family caregivers in Latino communities often face significant health and emotional challenges due to the demands of providing unpaid, long-term care to elderly loved ones. This capstone project was conducted in partnership with Central Coast Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) & Hospice through the Collaborative Health & Human Services Department at California State University Monterey Bay. The project focused on the city of Salinas, CA, a predominantly Hispanic community with a high percentage of older adults in need of hospice care. The primary goal was to assess the health and well-being of family caregivers and identify areas where supportive services could improve outcomes. A bilingual, print-based 10-question survey was distributed to 20 caregivers, of which 14 responses were collected and analyzed. Findings revealed that 50% of caregivers reported new health issues, many felt physically overworked, and nearly half had no time for daily self-care. However, financial strain was not as widely reported. Most participants were aware of available resources, and 86% expressed interest in massage therapy as a stress-relief service. The project met its objectives by identifying key caregiver needs and providing actionable data to guide future support programs. It is recommended that VNA implement ongoing wellness services, expand community outreach, and continue caregiver assessments to improve both caregiver and patient outcomes.

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