Applying a Family Caregiver Supports Needs Assessment Tool in Home-based Primary Care: An Approach to Elder Mistreatment Risk Reduction and Prevention
The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
Summary
This study will evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) intervention for family caregivers of older adults receiving home-based primary care. The CSNAT is a structured, caregiver-centered approach designed to identify caregiver support needs and facilitate supportive problem-solving conversations between clinicians and family caregivers. Family caregivers will be assigned to either the CSNAT intervention or a comparison group receiving usual care. Feasibility will be evaluated through participant recruitment, retention, and intervention adherence. Acceptability will be assessed through qualitative interviews with caregivers who participate in the intervention. The study will also examine the preliminary effects of the CSNAT intervention on caregiver outcomes, including caregiver strain, physical well-being, mental well-being, and emotional management. In addition, the study will explore whether improvements in caregiver well-being are associated with a reduced risk of situations that may contribute to harm or neglect of the older adult receiving care. This pilot study will provide information on the practicality of implementing the CSNAT intervention in home-based primary care and will inform the design of future larger-scale studies.
Description
Family caregivers play a crucial role in the care of older adults with health and daily living needs at home. At the same time, caregiving in this context can be stressful and demanding, and family members can experience strain, poor health, and unmet support needs. These circumstances can further impact the older adults they care for, including creating unwanted risks to their health and safety. Caregivers of patients receiving home-based primary care may be especially likely to experience these challenges because many patients have multiple health conditions and require extensive support. T…