The Savvy Caregiver Program: impact of an evidence-based intervention on the well-being of ethnically diverse caregivers

J Gerontol Soc Work. 2014;57(6-7):681-93. doi: 10.1080/01634372.2013.850584. Epub 2014 May 12.

Abstract

This article reports on the impact of the Savvy Caregiver Program (SCP) on English-speaking caregivers of Hispanic, Black/African American, and Asian/Pacific Islander descent. Caregivers completed a questionnaire prior to study enrollment, at 6 and 12 months postenrollment. Caregivers in all 3 ethnic groups showed more caregiver competence, reduced depression, greater tolerance for care recipients' memory problems, better management of their overall situation, and improved perception of that situation 6 months and 12 months post-enrollment. The study demonstrates that in the sample studied the SCP was as effective in helping ethnically diverse caregivers as it has shown to be with Caucasian caregivers.

Keywords: African American; Alzheimer’s; Asian; Hispanic; dementia.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • California
  • Caregivers / education*
  • Caregivers / psychology*
  • Cultural Characteristics
  • Dementia / nursing*
  • Ethnicity*
  • Evidence-Based Practice*
  • Family / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Social Support*
  • Stress, Psychological / diagnosis
  • Surveys and Questionnaires