About This Project
Helping families communicate and coordinate caregiving to improve the quality of life for all involved.
Our Family, Our Way: A Communication and Care Coordination Process for Family Caregivers is an innovative process developed by Miami University’s Scripps Gerontology Center to assist caregiving families in coordinating care through clear communication. This process provides families with resources to hold productive family meetings, discuss care needs, and define caregiving roles and responsibilities. The initiative includes individual tools, a family meeting guide, and other support materials to ensure a collaborative and well-organized caregiving arrangement.
Aims
1: Provide families with the tools and resources to facilitate clear communication about caregiving roles and responsibilities.
2: Enable families to hold structured family meetings to discuss and agree upon care plans, support needs, and responsibilities.
Dates
Dates:
The project is ongoing and does not have a specified end date.
Funder
Miami University Scripps Gerontology Center
Acknowledgements: Acknowledgement of the Scripps Gerontology Center team, caregivers, and families who contributed feedback and support for the development and implementation of the program.
Project Personnel
https://miamioh.edu/profiles/cas/jennifer-heston-mullins.html
Reports and Publications
A list of publications and reports. These can link to PDF files or other websites.
Resources
Curricular Connections
The project aligns with key concepts in gerontology, caregiving, and family communication. It provides an educational framework that can be used in courses related to aging, family dynamics, and caregiving, offering professional development opportunities for those working in the aging services sector.
Other Dissemination Outlets
- Podcasts on caregiving
- Webinars for family caregivers
- Social media campaigns to promote caregiving communication
Community outreach events
Commercial Products
- Family Caregiver Training Kit
Description: A comprehensive kit that provides families with tools, guides, and resources to improve caregiving communication.
Intended Audience: Family caregivers, caregiving organizations
Value: Supports families in coordinating caregiving efforts and improving care quality. - Caregiver Communication Guide
Description: A detailed guide on effective communication strategies for families managing caregiving.
Intended Audience: Family caregivers, social workers, healthcare professionals
Value: Helps families navigate difficult conversations about caregiving roles and responsibilities. - Online Webinars and Training Modules
Description: A series of online courses and webinars designed to train family caregivers in communication and care coordination.
Intended Audience: Family caregivers, healthcare providers
Value: Provides flexible learning for caregivers on effective communication and care management.
Social Policy Implications
The project promotes family caregiving best practices and can inform state-level policies regarding caregiving support and resources. By demonstrating the importance of communication in caregiving, it advocates for better resources for family caregivers.
Advocacy Campaigns
Advocacy efforts include raising awareness about the importance of family communication in caregiving. The findings from this project will mobilize support for legislation that provides better support for family caregivers.
Education and Training Materials
The project’s materials, including the Family Meeting Guide and Individual Tools, contribute to the development of educational resources that help family caregivers improve their caregiving skills and coordination. These resources also align with professional certification programs in gerontology and caregiving.
Cross-Sector Collaborations
The project encourages collaboration between family caregivers, healthcare providers, and community organizations to ensure that care coordination is streamlined and effective. Partnerships with social service agencies and healthcare providers will enhance the program’s reach.
Non-Profit or Governmental Partnerships
The project partners with non-profits and government organizations to ensure that caregiving families have access to resources, including funding and educational materials, to help them manage care effectively.
Innovation and Best Practices
The project introduces an innovative approach to caregiving coordination by providing structured materials for family meetings, which can be used in both self-guided and professional-assisted processes. This approach can be adopted by other organizations to improve family caregiving outcomes.
References
Any references or cited works can go here.
