The Stress-Busting Program for Family Caregivers TM

image

Overview

The Stress-Busting Program (SBP) for Family CaregiversTM is a suite program that provides support to family caregivers.  It is proven to:
  • Reduce caregiver stress
  • Reduce anger/hostility 
  • Reduce Anxiety 
  • Improve quality of life 

4 Proven Programs

The SBP is a train-the-trainer program where two certified facilitators meet with a small group (up to 8 people) of caregivers. The Stress-Busting Program is available in four formats:
  • Stress-Busting Program for Family Caregivers of Persons with Dementia
  • Stress-Busting Program for Spanish-Speaking Family Caregivers of Persons with Dementia
  • Stress-Busting Program for Family Caregivers of Persons with Chronic Conditions
  • Stress-Busting Program for Spanish-Speaking Family Caregivers of Persons with Chronic Conditions


Week   Title and Content Stress Management Technique
1Getting Started: Group introductions, purpose, and expectations of program.Relaxation Breathing
2Stress: Effects on Mind, Body, and Spirit: Causes of stress, mind-body-spirit connections to stress.Meditation
3Caregiver Stress and Relaxation: Effects of stress, relaxation response, creating a relaxation environment.Imagery
4Facing Challenges: Understanding and managing difficult and challenging situations when caring for someone with dementia or a chronic illness. Hand Massage
5Grief, Loss, and Depression: Grieving process and losses related to caring for someone with dementia or a chronic illness.  Art
6Coping with Stress: Discussion of changeable and unchangeable stressors.  Changing roles and relationships.  Use of coping strategies.Aromatherapy
7Positive Thinking: Changing the way one can think (cognitive restructuring) and how to view situations in a more positive framework.  Twisted thinking is discussed.Journaling
8Taking Care of Yourself:  Healthy Living: Integrating the strategies learned in earlier sessions to help develop a healthier lifestyle.  Emphasis on incorporating good nutrition and sleep habits, exercise, and hobbies into daily routines. Music
9Choosing a Path to Wellness: Final integration of first 8 sessions and applying it so caregivers will be empowered to take care of themselves.  Caregivers create a plan to do this and focus on healthy living.  Discuss assertiveness skills.

Training Availability 

The program follows a Master Trainer/Group Facilitator format model. Master Training is available to organizations that purchase a license and pay Master Training fees. Master Training is conducted via Zoom over a four-day, four hour period. Adopting both programs requires an additional 90 minutes of training for a total training time of 17.5 hours. The WCF requires a minimum of 4-8 people for personalized workshops.  

Remaining 2022 Master Training Dates 

Quarter 3: August 31 - September 1 and September 7 - 8/Location: Online using Zoom/8:30 am to 12:30 pm CST 
Quarter 4: October 26 - 27 and November 2 - 3/Location: Online using Zoom/8:30 am to 12:30 pm CST 


Program Credibility 

      • From 1996-2010 the SBP was developed through research from the National Institutes of Health.  From 2010-2012 the SBP was disseminated (with funding from the Administration on Aging in partnership with the WellMed Charitable Foundation) into the community in central and south Texas using a “master trainer-group facilitator” model.
      • The SBP is currently recognized by the Administration on Aging as the highest-level criteria for an evidenced-based program and by the VA as an evidence-supported program.
      • The SBP has been included in Best Practice Caregiving, a free online database of vetted, proven dementia caregiving programs.imageStates offering the Stress-Busting Program in Teal 

image

Visit our website: www.caregiverstressbusters.org


For more information email us at stressbusters@wellmed.net or call us toll free at 866-390

Breathing Assessment

The way you breathe affects every aspect of your life. When you're under stress, your muscles tense and your breathing becomes shallow and rapid. This video will help you assess your breathing pattern. 

4 x 4 Breathing Technique

  • One way to counteract the stress response is to learn how to breathe deeply and slowly - the opposite of how we breathe when under stress. This relaxation breathing exercise will focus on breathing in for a count of four, holding that breath for a count of four, exhaling for a count of four, and then relaxing for a count of four. This is done four times. 

SBP Flyer

Download our flyer and contact us about providing this evidence-based caregiver program in your area. 

  • SBP Flyer
    Download our flyer and contact us about providing this Evidence- Based Program to reduce stress and improve the quality of life for Family Caregivers in your area.
    You must log in to access content.

Cost Information

Contact Us to Start the SBP 

License fee - non-profit/government single entity license (3 years) is $500 for one program and an additional $100 for each additional program (total for: one program $500; two programs $600; three programs $700). Contact us for information about for-profit entity costs and costs for state/regional implementation. 

The Master Training cost is $1,200 for each participant in one of the programs. A minimum of two Master Trainers from each sponsoring agency/organization is required to participate in training. Additional training is available in all programs. The Master Training fees for additional programs is $150 per Master Trainer participant, per program. 

Handbooks for caregivers to participate in the program are available for purchase separately - $20/each.

Contact Information for the Stress-Busting Program

Representatives
  • Jennifer Kretzschmar and Tina Smith 
  • Stress-Busting Team at the WellMed Charitable Foundation 
Phone
  • 1-866-390-6491
Email
  • stressbusters@wellmed.net 
Website

QR code for the Scavenger Hunt!

Be sure to look through the rest of the exhibit for more information about the WellMed Foundation!

image