A Faith Community Nursing Intervention for Informal Caregiver–Older Adult Dyads

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test the impact of embedding trained Faith Community Nurse (FCN) interventionists in a Catholic Health System affiliated primary care practice as liaisons of care in the homes of older adult clients (OACs) and their informal caregiver (IC). Specific aims were to examine if a FCN intervention improved IC and OAC health, well-being, knowledge and understanding of chronic disease management, self-advocacy, and self-care. A non-random quasi-experimental design was used. Most ICs were spouses or adult children ( M age = 66) who lived with the older adult ( M age = 79). The ICs’ scores significantly increased after the intervention on the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale ( p = .002), Spirituality as Life, Meaning, and purpose ( p = .026), and Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale ( p = .005). Future research is needed examining the FCN intervention with larger sample sizes in more diverse communities and acute care settings.