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Projects with Promise

Vol. 17 No. 1

A Telephone Support Program for Adult Day Center Caregivers: Early Indications of Impact

Submitted
March 7, 2013
Published
2013-03-07

Abstract

The Virginia Commonwealth University/A Grace Place Caregiver
Telephone Support Pilot Program was developed as a service-learning
experience for graduate students to address the need for family caregiver
support services. The Telephone Support Program was developed by
the Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Gerontology,
in collaboration with A Grace Place Adult Day Center, as a pilot project
that introduced a low-tech telephone outreach initiative in which
trained students provided weekly caregiver support through active
listening. Uniting students with family caregivers provided a challenging
learning experience for students that enriched students’
personal and professional development, provided an important service
for caregivers, and met a critical community need. The findings
demonstrate that a telephone support format offers a positive educational
experience for graduate students and essential psychosocial
support for family caregivers.