Powerful Tools for Caregivers

Powerful Tools for Caregivers helps family and friends caring for older adults with long-term health conditions develop the skills and confidence to better care for themselves while caring for others. Caregivers gain skills and tools to improve self-care behaviors, manage emotions, increase self-confidence, and locating resources. This class meets for 6 weekly, 90-minute sessions led by two trained facilitators.

Next Steps:

(1) Find a workshop to join at www.yourjuniper.org.

(2) Host a workshop at your organization in partnership with Faith Community Nurse Network.

(3) Become a leader! Find out more!


Program History

Powerful Tools for Caregivers (PTC) and all materials were developed over 3 years of pilot testing, refinement and evaluative research to assess the program’s effectiveness. Initiated through grant funding, the program has been offered since 1998 in the United States. There are 3,000 trained PTC Class Leaders in 40 states as of 2015. Since the program’s inception, Powerful Tools for Caregivers materials have reached over 80,000 caregivers.

 

PTC is based on the highly successful Chronic Disease Self-Management Program developed by Dr. Kate Lorig and her colleagues at Stanford University. In the years since the program began, a great deal of research, evaluation and revision has been done to ensure its continued value and success. The 6-week PTC class has been shown to have a positive impact on caregiver health for a diverse group of caregivers including rural, ethnic minorities, adult children of aging parents, well-spouses/partners, caregivers at differing stages in their caregiving role, living situations, financial and educational backgrounds. Data from class participant evaluations indicates the PTC program significantly improves:

 

  • Self-Care Behaviors: (increased exercise, use of relaxation techniques and medical checkups.)
  • Management of Emotions: (reduced guilt, anger, and depression.)
  • Self-efficacy (increased confidence in coping with caregiving demands.)
  • Use of Community Resources: (increased utilization of community services.)