Care Services Navigation and Care Skills Development Program for Informal Caregivers of Seniors and Seniors Aging in Place in New Brunswick

Research Area: Health  | Status:  Ongoing | Led By: Researcher and student-infused

Background

As the number of Canadians who are aging and living with a chronic progressive illness increases, so does the need for informal caregivers to provide in-home care. Many informal caregivers (family and friends) feel unprepared to care for seniors aging at home.

Project Vision

With this research project, we hope to enhance the quality of informal care provided to seniors aging at home. Involving health students will also strengthen future healthcare and support of seniors and their families.

The completion of these workshops by informal caregivers will positively impact their skills, abilities, and confidence to navigate senior care at home.

Goals and Expected Outcomes from the research

Informal caregivers (i.e., family and friends) will have increased access to and awareness of this training program and will acquire improved skills and abilities and preparedness for the caregiving role.

Informal caregivers will experience decreased social isolation and will have access to increased support networks and increased access to services/supports.

Informal caregivers will also experience intellectual stimulation due to group learning. Informal caregivers will also have access to respite care while attending these workshops with their senior. 

Students will have an increased awareness of the family caregiver role and improved self-efficacy delivering education to family caregivers.

Researchers

NBCC (New Brunswick Community College)
Tammie Fournier, M.Ed., RRT, FCSRT, CRE, CTE
Joni Leger, MAHSR, Research Associate – Social Innovation
Sonya Ducey, LPN
Jackie Perry, LPN

University of Manitoba
Jamie L. Penner RN, PhD

University of New Brunswick - Saint John
Catherine Hamilton, CNM, PhD
Kimberly Wilbur RN MN
Derek J. Gaudet, B.A. (hons), M.A.

Partners and Supports

This research project is funded through the Healthy Seniors Pilot Project (HSPP) initiative of Social Development supported by the Public Health Agency of Canada. The applied research initiative’s goal is to examine and improve how governments, in partnership with the research community, non-profits and the private sector, can better support seniors in their homes, communities and care facilities. Healthy Seniors Pilot Projects will help New Brunswickers to better understand the gendered impacts on an aging population, improve the quality of life for our seniors, and help us lay the groundwork for the dissemination of evidenced-based best practices in supporting healthy aging for all Canadians.