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Caregiver Support Groups: Led by Peers, Professional, or Both

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Book cover Education and Support Programs for Caregivers

Part of the book series: Caregiving: Research, Practice, Policy ((CARE))

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Abstract

Caregiver support groups are an intervention strategy that has been used extensively to relieve stress and to help caregivers learn and use methods of coping. Support groups offer family caregivers the opportunity to share experiences and issues, receive emotional support from persons who have similar experiences and problems, and learn caregiving strategies that have been successful for others (Toseland, Rossiter, Peak, & Hill, 1990). There are several types of caregiver support groups, however, and current research is inconclusive as to what types are most effective. As with other types of interventions, it is likely that the type of support group that is most helpful for a specific family caregiver depends upon the characteristics of the caregiver, the care recipient, and other characteristics of the social and physical environments (Zarit & Leitsch, 2001). This chapter discusses the types of caregiver support groups, emphasizing peer- vs. professional-led groups. Research, to date, that has evaluated support interventions for caregivers, including the effectiveness of support groups in general, and a few studies comparing peer- and professional-led support groups are reviewed. The characteristics of successful support group leaders and successful support groups suggested by the research are described. Finally, future education, practice, research, and policy needs to better assist family members who assume a large and increasing share of the care of ill and disabled persons in the United States and in other countries are discussed. Because the ­preponderance of caregiver support group research is with informal caregivers of persons with dementia, the chapter focuses mainly on the results of the studies of these groups.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Nursing, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA

    Meridean L. Maas

Authors
  1. Meridean L. Maas
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  2. Janet P. Specht
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Correspondence to Meridean L. Maas .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Inst. Gerontology, State University of New York, Albany, Western Avenue 135, Albany, 12222, New York, USA

    Ronald W. Toseland

  2. Rosalynn Carter Inst. Caregiving, Georgia Southwestern State University, Oglethorpe, Georgia, USA

    David H. Haigler

  3. College of Human Ecology, School of Social Work, Syracuse University, Sims Hall, Syracuse, 13244, New York, USA

    Deborah J. Monahan

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Maas, M.L., Specht, J.P. (2011). Caregiver Support Groups: Led by Peers, Professional, or Both. In: Toseland, R., Haigler, D., Monahan, D. (eds) Education and Support Programs for Caregivers. Caregiving: Research, Practice, Policy. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8031-1_6

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