Virtual support for caregivers of persons with alzheimers

Virtual Support for Caregivers of Persons with Alzheimers Susan Toth-Cohen, PhD, OTR/L (SL: Zsuzsa Tomsen) Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conference March 18, 2011 Supported by: The Department of Occupational Therapy and the Committee on Research, Thomas Jefferson University From Research on Healthy Aging to Health Literacy Education

Evolution of Work Graduate Student Projects on Health & Wellness Exhibits & Research Study on Healthy Aging Findings Highlight Need for Education and Support on Caregiving Partnership with Support Leader & Further Development of Caregiver Support Group Development of Program Interface Between Graduate Courses and Older Adult Health Literacy Occupational Therapy Center at Jefferson in Second Life Eduisland 2-Main Center Fatima’s Cherished – Garden of Healthy Aging ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],12/18 participants identified as “Most Helpful”

Group Meeting: Caring for the Caregiver

Caregiver Support Group Second Life ® ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Goals ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Slide from Jillian Fierenza (RL: Jillian Scavello)

Methods ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Slide from Jillian Fierenza (RL: Jillian Scavello)

Outcomes ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Slide from Jillian Fierenza (RL: Jillian Scavello)

Timeline Group Development & Topics Based on slide from Jillian Fierenza (RL: Jillian Scavello) October November September August ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Future Topics (Generate ideas with participants) - 2: Adapting To The Changed Person - 3: Caring for the caregiver ,[object Object],[object Object]

Sample of Group Notices & Dissemination Strategies ,[object Object],[object Object],Slide from Jillian Fierenza (RL: Jillian Scavello) Announce-ments to Groups Search Conducted for AD groups on SL Refinement to strategies made accordingly Event Notices Advertise- ments on SL

Timeline January – March 2011 ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Courses include specific content about Alzheimer’s disease, the aging process, common issues in aging, and ways to adapt physical and social environments to promote healthy aging and aging in place. December ,[object Object]

Additional Discussion -Why little interest in advocacy? (caregivers may have little time/energy for a support group; may prefer use of SL as escape) -How to generate more interest in group/get the word out? (spread the word in real world communities, e.g., OTs; advertise in other support groups) -Will group continue? (yes) -Who were caregivers in initial study (50 years old+ caring for parents)

Virtual support for caregivers of persons with alzheimers

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Virtual support for caregivers of persons with alzheimers

Editor's Notes