Caregiver Education and Support Group: A Hospital Based Group Experience

Since February 1986, social workers have led a group for family members of patients who are being treated in any of the three geriatric assessment programs at Fairfield Health Centre (a division of the Greater Victoria Hospital Society). The group has had a total of 26 participants with an average attendance of 5 per session. The group process has been focused on providing emotional support, developing social networks and educating caregivers about normal aging, as well as problem solving. Speakers, films and handouts have been used to increase knowledge and skills in areas such as coping with dementia and depression, interpersonal communication, stress management, nutrition, activity, and exercise for the elderly. Feedback from participants has been sought at three month intervals to assess whether the program is meeting their needs. This information has been used to restructure the group this year. The group has also recently linked itself to a network of caregiver groups in the community as the value of such groups is recognized by the general public. This paper reviews the goals, development and evaluation of the group, and presents demographic information on all participants.