It is predicted that by 2030 19.8% of our population will be over 65. 14 percent of U.S. households report that at least one person has been a family caregiver to someone 50+ within the last 12 months.  Today, over half of Kentucky’s older adults report living with a disability and there is a growing prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.  Due to the increasing demand for knowledge regarding caregiver resources and support in Kenton County, the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent utilized AARP’s Prepare to Care: A Resource Guide for Families, to help make care giving more manageable for the 14 individuals who attended the virtual classes. The program focused on “5 steps to a caregiving plan”: Start the conversation, form a team, create a plan, find support, and care for yourself.  The participants conveyed through the chat feature in the Zoom Sessions many felt ill prepared to effectively care for an elderly person especially with regards to financial and emotional support.  

In a 2 month follow up written evaluation 8 completed surveys were returned indicating the following results. Five reported they felt “somewhat” to “very well“ prepared to take care of a family member’s physical needs; six reported that they felt “somewhat” to “very well” prepared to taking care of emotional needs; Six participants felt “somewhat” to “very well” prepared to set up services; three felt “somewhat” to “very well” prepared to deal with caregiver stress; and eight felt “somewhat” to “very well” prepared to respond to and handle emergencies. Overall, seven participants felt “somewhat” to “very well” prepared to make caregiving a pleasant experience after attending the program. As a direct result of attending the program the two major revelations were: 100% of the respondents reported they have at least begun discussions with family about caregiving and 6 have worked toward completion of a caregiving plan.

Additional participant comments included:

• “This class has given me the perfect opportunity to open up the discussion with my siblings regarding my elderly parents care as they try to age in place.”
• “The needs assessment is an ideal tool to go over with my family to help us plan.”
• “Before this class I was feeling lost and alone”