Understanding and Supporting Family Caregivers Needs and Skills for Civilians and Veterans with SCI

Thursday, November 10, 2022

10:45 AM – 12:00 PM

Presenter(s)

Denise C. Fyffe, PhD

Senior Research Scientist
Kessler Foundation
West Orange, New Jersey, United States

Slides
Joyce Williams, LCSW, MSW

Spinal Cord Injury & Disorders Coordinator
VA NJ HCS
East Orange, New Jersey, United States
Jeanne Zanca, MPT, PhD, FACRM

IRB Chair/Assistant Director, Spinal Cord Injury Research
Kessler Foundation
West Orange, New Jersey, United States
CG

Carol Gibson-Gill, MD, MSCS

Department Chair
Veterans Administration N J Health Care System
East Orange, New Jersey, United States

Family Caregivers have been identified as a critical member of the SCI medical rehabilitative team who are responsible for providing assistance, supervision, and healthcare to persons living with an SCI. In this symposium, the panelists will describe four studies that examined different factors that impact caregivers’ experiences in the provision of care to Veterans and civilians living with SCI/D as well as tools used to support the needs of family Caregivers. The projects presented in this symposium will highlight the benefits of developing educational resources for SCI family Caregivers that are informed by the experiences of the Caregivers themselves.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion, participants will be able to describe different characteristics of family Caregivers that impact their caregiving skills.
Upon completion, participants will be able to describe the relationship challenges and solutions that impact family Caregivers and their loved ones living with SCI.
Upon completion, participants will be able to identify assessment tool that can facilitate self-directed care for people with tetraplegia and improve family Caregivers’ skills.
Upon completion, participants will be able to define the benefits of developing educational resources for SCI family Caregivers that are informed by the experiences of the Caregivers themselves.
Upon completion, participants will be able to describe the development of development of a learner-driven, web-based family Caregiver education program to help VA and other health care systems promote health and well-being among family Caregivers of Veterans with SCI.