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For the past four years Lynn, a 70-year-old retired school teacher, has been the primary caregiver for her husband, Albert, who has Alzheimer’s disease. He is rapidly becoming more impaired; he is very forgetful and can no longer be left alone. Albert requires assistance with eating, dressing, bathing, toileting, and all Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. At least for now, he can transfer and ambulate independently. Lynn arranged for a friend to stay with her husband so she could attend the six Powerful Tools for Caregivers (PTC)Program sessions.

Lynn was neatly dressed and appeared content in her caregiver role. At first Lynn remained quiet and did not participate in group discussions. When asked to describe her sources of stress, Lynn began to describe her husband’s extreme demands. Lynn stated that she becomes very frustrated when caring for her husband. She had no previous experience with Alzheimer’s disease and felt unprepared to provide the care her husband needs. Lynn expressed resentment toward Albert because he requires all her attention. Lynn enjoys shopping and eating out, but she can no longer take Albert, due to his unpredictable behavior. She recalls becoming very embarrassed when he began yelling in the restaurant. Lynn felt socially isolated and no longer invited friends over to her house.

As the PTC workshop progressed, Lynn became more open and began to forge friendships with other participants. She learned how to reduce stress, ask for help from others, and deal with difficult emotions. She developed skills to deal specifically with dementia caregiving and became more confident in her caregiver role. Following the workshop, Lynn reported feeling less stress than she had felt prior to the workshop. Five months later, the PTC facilitator encountered Lynn, who was out shopping. Lynn said she has been making time for herself and had asked for help from her extended family. PTC gave Lynn knowledge and skills that improved her self-confidence and promoted a healthier caregiver relationship. She related that she found the work shop very helpful and had already referred a friend.   

Powerful Tools for Caregivers”: Teaching Skills That Reduce Stress and Increase Self-Confidence