Care-Services Navigation and Care Skills Development Program for informal caregivers of seniors and seniors aging in place in New Brunswick

As New Brunswick’s senior population grows rapidly, the government has proposed an “aging in place” strategy, which aims to provide seniors with the support needed to stay at home and live independently for as long as possible. When seniors face health problems or have specific independent living needs, family and friends often come to their aid. These “informal caregivers” need support and training to meet the needs of seniors. In New Brunswick, general knowledge about caregiving is not easily accessible and many people struggle to navigate the systems for senior caregiving support. A four-day workshop was carried out to provide informal caregivers with information that would help them in their caregiving roles and in navigating and using available resources in New Brunswick.

• The workshop was led by two professionals in senior care and supported by healthcare students from New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) and the University of New Brunswick (UNB).
• Participants had the option to attend virtually or in person.

The project evaluated the impact of the workshop initiative on caregivers’ quality of life, preparedness for caregiving, and overall workshop experience. 134 informal caregivers attended the workshops and 113 of them were included in the evaluation analysis: 80% women, 98% Caucasian, 58% aged 65 years or older (M = 66.8 years, range = 31-86 years).

• Results demonstrated that a four-day workshop increased caregivers’ quality of life and preparedness for caregiving.
• Loneliness negatively impacted caregivers’ quality of life suggesting that interventions targeting loneliness might also increase caregivers’ quality of life, which has potential to promote environments where seniors can age successfully in place.
• Preparedness for caregiving was positively related to caregivers’ quality of life, highlighting the importance of providing caregivers with knowledge and resources to support their caregiving role.

• As most caregivers recruited were older and retired adults, future deliveries of the program would need to be adjusted to attract younger caregivers.
• To reduce the time commitment required from caregivers, future evaluations could investigate whether shorter versions of the workshop, such as a two-day format, are sufficient.
• Determine whether the improvements in caregivers’ quality of life and preparedness for caregiving reduce burnout, as burnout prevention is key for sustaining an “aging in place” strategy.

To learn more read the complete project findings (PDF 139 Ko)