You Are Not Alone

Abstract

In 2015, there were 43.5 million informal, unpaid caregivers in the United States. Caregivers reported a moderate to high level of burden of care, including performing medical and nursing tasks they were not trained to do. A study of family caregiver experiences with parish/faith community nurses reveals four key ways parish nurses support caregivers and offers important implications for parish nurse preparation and practice. KEY WORDS: caregiving, faith community nursing, nursing presence, parish nursing, spiritual care 2.5 contact hours Parish Nurses Bridge ChalleNges for family Caregivers healthcare needs are on the rise due to the aging U.S. population and an increase in the number of chronic illnesses. As hospitalizations become shorter, patients may be sent home with care needs that family members must provide. With this combined increase in the aging population and decrease in hospital length of stay, the number of family caregivers giving care to loved ones in their homes is expected to rise. Parish nurses can play a critical role in supporting patients and caregivers. WHO ARE CAREGIVERS?A 2015 study by the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC, 2015) reports there are 43.5 million informal, unpaid caregivers in the United States. Over half (60%) are female and around 49 years old, although one in 10 (7%) are 75 years of age or older, and caregiving without any additional unpaid help. The majority (34.2 million) cares for an adult age 50 or older. Most (85%) care for a relative; 49% care for a parent or parent-in-law and have been providing care for four or more years. Half say they had a choice to provide care; the other half reports they had no choice.

The Experience of Working With a Faith Community Nurse Liaison of Care in a Primary Care Practice Among Older Adult Clients and Their Informal Caregiver

“…Existing evidence supports that religiosity and spirituality among older adults is associated with improved life quality and self-rated health, greater life satisfaction, increased motivation, encouragement, physical fitness, vitality, and reduced depression, loneliness, and feelings of helplessness (Abdala et al, 2015). FCNs are perfectly positioned to play a critical role in wholistically supporting older adults and their caregivers as faithbased liaisons and advocates of care (Grebeldinger & Buckley, 2016).…”

“…Interventions provided by FCNs and their faith communities have been shown to reduce health care costs and unnecessary emergency room and physician office visits as well as prevent unwarranted hospitalizations and assisted living and LTC placement (Brown et al, 2009). To sustain faith community nursing practice and to promote quality faith-based person-centered wholistic care for older adults aging in place, further research and models of care are needed exploring and examining the FCN role in health care as well as the impact, benefit, and outcomes of utilizing FCNs as members of interdisciplinary teams caring for older adults and their caregivers (Grebeldinger & Buckley, 2016;Solari-Twadell & Ziebarth, 2020). Additionally, awareness of faith community nursing as an instrumental and valuable wholistic specialty practice needs to be promoted across all health care disciplines (Sessanna et al, 2020).…”

“…Services provided by FCNs to older adults in faith community settings, on a paid or volunteer basis, include conducting health assessments, providing health promotion and disease prevention education, and monitoring and reporting identified health care needs to family and interprofessional health care providers (HCPs), while advocating for and assisting with support service referrals (ANA & HMA, 2017). Although FCNs are uniquely positioned as health care liaisons for older adult congregants and their informal caregivers in their faith community setting, an extensive review of the literature revealed that research examining the impact, benefit, and outcomes of embedding FCNs in various older adult health care, home, and primary care practice (PCP) settings is lacking (Dyess et al, 2010;Grebeldinger & Buckley, 2016;King, 2011;Shores, 2014;Solari-Twadell & Ziebarth, 2020). Due to the growing older adult population aging in place with chronic illness, older adult connection to their place of worship and faith communities, and the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and financial burden that caregivers of older adults often face, research is needed exploring the role of FCNs in caring for older adults and their caregivers.…”

What Are the Characteristics of the Parish Nursing Research Literature and How Can it Inform Parish Nurse Practice and Research in Canada? A Scoping Review

“…For the most part, all 14 qualitative studies meet the quality criteria for appropriateness of the methods and reporting of the data collection methods and sources (Devido et al, 2018; Dyess, 2008; Dyess & Chase, 2012; Grebeldinger & Buckley, 2016; Kazmer et al, 2017; King, 2011; Millerd, 2010; Mock, 2017; Newbanks & Rieg, 2011; Sheehan et al, 2013; Shores, 2014; Van Dover & Pfeiffer, 2011; Young, 2015; Ziebarth & Miller, 2010). According to MMAT criteria, there is insufficient evidence to confirm that the findings are adequately derived from the data in six of the 14 studies; we appraised this criterion as “can't tell” in five articles (Grebeldinger & Buckley, 2016; King, 2011; Mock, 2017; Sheehan et al, 2013; Young, 2015) and “no” in one study (Newbanks & Rieg, 2011). Our scoring is based on absent or weak reporting of data analytic procedures with rationale.…”

“…Ten of 43 articles (23.3%) address the role of PNs in providing wholistic nursing care (Dyess, 2008; Dyess & Chase, 2012; Grebeldinger & Buckley, 2016; Hixson & Loeb, 2018; King, 2011; McCabe & Somers, 2009; Rydholm et al, 2008; Sheehan et al, 2013; Solari-Twadell & Hackbarth, 2010; Wordsworth, 2015). Wholistic PN practice involves physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual support (Grebeldinger & Buckley, 2016; Sheehan et al, 2013; Solari-Twadell & Hackbarth, 2010; Wordsworth, 2015).…”