Focusing on the Caregiver:
U-M research offers insight into helping caregivers cope, con't.
Given the state of the economy in Michigan,
caregiver needs may continue to grow. A 2009
survey conducted by the National Alliance for
Caregiving and Evercare indicated that half of
caregiver respondents reported that, as a result
of the economic downturn, they experienced
increased stress about being able to care for
loved ones.
Even for couples as close
as Kate and Nick Ebli, the
unexpected comes up in
conversations about cancer.
Northouse and her colleagues are looking for
ways to develop more cost-effective interventions
for families. Some of the ideas they are pursuing are training nurses with bachelor's, rather than master's degrees, to deliver the
intervention; developing Web-based tools to accomplish the same goals; and collaborating with The Wellness Community to pilot the
program using small groups of patients and caregivers.
The Wellness Community initiative -- which will be tested by the Ann Arbor chapter -- is funded by a $100,000 grant from the Rosalynn
Carter Institute for Caregiving.
"It's certainly less costly to deliver the intervention to a group," Northouse said. "And we may find that there's more synergy in small
groups of couples meeting regularly. We may discover added benefits with this model."
Another future goal for the FOCUS program is to better understand whether gender plays a role in how caregivers cope. The latest
study, which involves lung and colorectal cancer patients, may help to shed light on that question, she said.
Although most who have participated in the studies have been married or committed couples, other types of caregivers have been represented as well. Ann and
Didi Robins, two sisters, participated in the latest study.
Sisters Ann (left) and
Didi Robins make it
a priority to have
dinner together
almost every night.
Ann, who has been fighting metastatic colon cancer since 2001, moved to Ann Arbor from New York City two years ago to be closer to her sister. The sisters
live across the street from one another.
"We have our independence," Ann said.
"But in the first six weeks, we almost killed each other," Didi said.
The sisters have dinner together almost every night. Didi said she makes time, despite the hectic pace of her work as a professor of human genetics at the
U-M Medical School.
And on weekends, the Robinses head to Ann's basement to work on decorative wall hangings that they're constructing from discounted Motawi tiles.
Although Ann and Didi are close -- and close in age as well with only 15 months between them -- the things that are emotionally difficult
for each of them are very different. They said the FOCUS program helped them to talk about those things.
"I would begin, but I couldn't open my mouth to say it: What do you want to be done
afterward? Do you want to be buried or cremated?" Didi said.
"I don't find that hard at all," Ann said.
"But it was hard for me to say. I'm this hard-as-rock, butter-wouldn't-melt-in-my-mouth scientist person, and there are things that just the mere thought of
them brings tears to my eyes," Didi said. "Ann's always been the warmer, cuddlier one."
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