Skye Gross

Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Nicole Harris

Abstract

Background: Family caregivers represent approximately 20% of the U.S. population (American Association for Retired Persons [AARP], 2020), with a prevalence linked to the rise of conditions and critical care needs among the baby boomer population. Family members are often relied upon to ensure the basic health needs of their loved ones as the complexity of care increases. On average, family caregivers dedicated 24 or more hours a week to caregiving tasks while fulfilling work and other essential functions. Nearly 50% provided high-intensity care to recipients with complex medical conditions with limited formal training (Reinhardt et al., 2019). These extreme levels of occupational imbalance and the lack of preparedness pose significant health disparities for family caregivers. The occupational therapy (OT) profession has a distinct role in addressing these health disparities and unmet needs of family caregivers through evidenced-based interventions and advocacy.

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project (SP) was to address the unmet needs of family caregivers by partnering with local organizations that currently serve this population using innovative OT practices such as program modification, implementation, and grant writing. Through an OT lens, this SP aimed to promote a current caregiver education and training program through occupation and evidence-based practices facilitating optimal health literacy outcomes, thus accelerating a local agency's mission of empowering a community of thriving and competent family caregivers.

Method: The Ecological Human Performance (EHP) occupation-based framework was employed to conduct a comprehensive literature review and needs assessment to infer the role of OT in addressing the health inequities for family caregivers (Dunn, 2017). EHP also guided the development of this SP through a structured analysis of the person, context, and task-related factors that either hinder or support this population's occupational well-being.

Results: The final SP product entailed multiple contributions to a local caregiving education consulting agency. These included modifications and enhancements to five learning modules in a current caregiver education and training program and four grant funding submissions to support this program's sustainability within the community. The culmination of these outcomes promoted the program's utility, accessibility, and application for a population with diverse learning needs.

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