Date

5-2020

Document Type

Capstone Project (Open Access)

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Department

Health, Human Services and Public Policy

Major

Collaborative Health and Human Services and Social Work Concentration

Abstract

Many adults find themselves taking care of their elderly parents because they need the assistance due to their age or some type of health-related issue. VNA and Hospice is a nonprofit organization that offers home health care services. VNA focuses on making sure not only the patients’ personal needs are being met but also the families. The project was an educational intervention that addressed caregiver burnout and the importance of self-care. Typically, families neglect self-care because they are unaware of support resources, under utilizing the resources available to them or they simply don’t understand the value in self-care. Neglecting self-care can result in the patients not receiving the help they need, and the overall health of the caregiver diminishes. The project consisted of a needs assessment created and then administered to participants. The project focused on caregivers and managing stress. The results indicated that the majority of the participants participated in some type of stress relieving activity at least once a week and listening to music was found to be the most therapeutic because it improved their overall mood and was the most effective in reducing their stress levels. Secondly, a flyer was developed for families to utilize tips and ideas for managing stress as needed and that they will pass on the information to others. The flyer was a success and was agreed to be utilized with families of VNA during home visits because caregiver burnout is too common among many families and they need as much support as possible.

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