# Presentation: 771271

## SENIOR CARE:

- <date/time>

- Learning How to Support
- Latino and Anglo Family Caregivers

## The SeniorCare Project

- Funded by AoA
- Judy Yoder, LCSW, Project Director
- Gervacio Lopez, MSW, Social Worker
- Evaluation Consultants:
- Margaret Huyck, Ph.D. & Liat Ayalon, M.S.
- Institute of Psychology,
- Illinois Institute Technology, Chicago

## The First Challenge:

- Shift the focus of the agency and staff:
- From the individual elderly client –
- E.g, “What does this woman need?”

## The First Challenge:

- Shift Focus to the
- 	**client in context –**
- 	What does this family need to continue caring for the elder?

## Identifying Ideal Options

- Review literature on what seems to work:  reviewed by AoA
- Comprehensive
- Continuum
- Individualized
- No “ideal” service set

## What Can We (Really) Do?

- Existing programs in
- Family counseling
- Economic counseling
- Respite houses
- Develop new programs in
- Psychoeducational workshops
- Caregiver support groups
- Resource Directory

## Focus on the Community Context

- 4 communities in NW Chicago
- High % elderly
- Low-moderate $
- Many Latino heritage
- Polish, other European American families

## Identify Partners

- Goal is to strengthen community-based networks
- Support – don’t duplicate
- Begin with obvious, cooperative partners;  expand network as you proceed

## Advisory Committee

- Ask of each partner:
- What do you do?
- What do you do best?
- What are your needs?
- Offer each service:
- “What would it look like in your setting?”

## Focus on Staffing

- Professionals are essential for programs: MSW/=,
- 	clinical experience, flexibility
- Linguistic & cultural competence
- Evaluation specialists

## Programming Challenges

- Space/ place/ setup:
- 	accessibility
- 	privacy/noise control
- 	tables vs theater
- Time: still checking!
- Duration: 1.5 –2 hrs for most sessions

## Culturally Appropriate Services

- Learn about your cultures/subcultures
- Enlist all the expertise you can, especially local partners
- Be creative and sensitive in building in cultural variability

## What makes a service or program “culturally competent?”

- Offer all materials in native language – may involve translations of proceedings during the session (discretely)
- Note challenges of finding pictures for 	brochures – individuals want to see 	themselves in your materials

## What makes a service or program “culturally competent?”

- Challenges of finding experts in Spanish for all workshops, sessions, evaluation
- Meanings go beyond simple translation: “burden” language unacceptable for many Latina and African-American caregivers: focus on enhancing their caregiving, not relieving personal distress

##  Cultural Sensitivity

- Include members of the cultural group on staff: Gervacio Lopez is a younger, male, Spanish language-heritage professional; several other staff members are of similar heritage
- Include culture as one of the dimensions affecting the caregiving experience

## Food and Beyond..

- Latinas (and probably others) regard sociable visiting, eating as essential to establishing rapport
- Appreciate local ethnic goodies
- Allow more time for program

## Marketing: Come! Benefit!!

- Multiple strategies needed:
- Program flyers
- Program brochures
- Media: cable TV
- Professional referrals
- Personal contacts best

## Evaluation

- What’s happening?
- What works?
- What doesn’t work?
- Why?
- Why?
- Why?
- What to do about it?

## Measuring Implementation

- Observer at each workshop and support group
- Relies on qualitative observational data
- Find out what’s “in the box” [intended program]
- Provide ongoing feedback to staff

## Measuring Outcomes

- Satisfaction: halo and relief effects
- Interviews: useful – Why attend now?
- 	What remember, use?
- 	What’s missing?
- NOT pre-post test of “facts about...”

## Challenges for All

- Identify what works, for whom
- Use experience to tailor support services
- Use evaluation data to modify and improve programs

## SeniorCare Contacts

- Judy Yoder, Program Director
- 	773-371-3723
- 	_[yoderj@metrofamily.org](mailto:yoderj@metrofamily.org)_
- Margaret Huyck, Program Evaluator
- 	773-667-3649
- 	MHHuyck@aol.com