Developing and testing a self-care intervention for older adults in caregiving roles

Theory-based interventions incorporating a self-care perspective for health promotion and protection are needed for older adults. The Self-Care for Health Promotion in Aging (S-CHPA) model provided the basis for development of an intervention focused on promoting health among older adults who provide care for their spouses with dementia.

To describe the development of a theory-based intervention (Self-Care Talk) and to describe the process of evaluating the implementation of the intervention when it was pilot tested with older spouse caregivers of persons with dementia.

The S-CHPA model was used to guide development of Self-Care Talk, a series of telephone-based sessions between advanced practice nurses and older adults. Session content included practicing healthy habits, building self-esteem, focusing on the positive, avoiding role overload, communicating, and building meaning. Specific self-care strategies were explored in the context of an individual's experiences, relationships, and condition. Intervention implementation was evaluated using Lichstein's criteria of delivery, receipt, and enactment.

Six spouse caregivers of persons with dementia participated in the pilot study. The education and support intervention was delivered as intended (delivery). Participants reported understanding session content (receipt), and planned to use the information (enactment). Participants also reported an increased awareness about self-care practices and offered specific examples of how they intended to practice better self-care.

The theory-based Self-Care Talk intervention can be implemented as intended and is ready for use in future randomized clinical trials with older spouse caregivers of persons with dementia.