The Faith Community Nurse Network provides training and support to faith community nurses to lead Powerful Tools for Caregivers in their congregations and other community settings.
Our Powerful Tools for Caregivers (PTC) program is a small-group workshop for people age 60+ who help a parent, spouse, partner, child, or friend who lives with a long-term health condition. PTC offers practical strategies and tools for caregivers to reduce stress, improve self-confidence, manage goals, solve problems, self-advocate, make tough decisions, and locate resources.
Classes are highly participatory, where mutual support helps to build participants’ confidence. Powerful Tools for Caregivers aims to improve caregiver health and wellbeing.
Research has found that people who complete a Powerful Tools for Caregivers workshop have:
- Increased use of local services
- Increased confidence in coping with caregiver demands
- Reduced feelings of guilt, anger, and depression
- Improved self-care practices such as exercise, relaxation, and medical check-ups
What is a PTC workshop?
- Small group workshop with 10-14 participants
- 1.5 hour sessions, 1 session each week for 6 weeks
- Held in comfortable community settings
- Participants with a variety of caregiving experience attend together
- Participants receive the Caregivers Helpbook
- Led by two trained facilitators
Become a Leader
Become a Powerful Tools for Caregivers Leader with the Faith Community Nurse Network and learn how to lead this six session, small group program for older adults. Join our email list if you would like to receive information about upcoming Leader trainings.
Resources for Leaders
Resources for planning and leading your Powerful Tools for Caregivers workshop can be found on a separate password-protected webpage. The tools and resources in this section of the website are for FCNN Leaders. Click to access Leader resources
Questions?
If you have questions about bringing a Powerful Tools for Caregivers workshop to your community, becoming a Leader, or would just like additional information about the program, contact Sam Sleeman, our Executive Director, at Sam@fcnntc.org and 651-204-0904.
“This class was well done and should be offered again – thanks so much.”
-Program Participant
Our evidence-based programs are supported by funding from the Live Well at Home grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services. This program is also funded under contract with Trellis, Inc. as part of the Older Americans Act Program. We support evidence-based programs in partnership with Juniper, a statewide network of healthcare providers, health plans, housing providers, and community based organizations, all dedicated to improving the health of the communities we serve — together.
