Faculty mentor/PI email address
yacoe@rowan.edu
Keywords
Caregiver Wellness, Caregiver Burden, Family Caregivers, Mental Health, Preventive Care, Quality of Life
IRB or IACUC Protocol Number
PRO-2025-217
Date of Presentation
5-6-2026 12:00 AM
Poster Abstract
Family caregivers provide care for loved ones by addressing their activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and psychological needs. These demands impact a caregiver’s time and overall well-being. To address burnout and improve education regarding caregiver wellness, a workshop was created to build an effective support system for caregivers and teach them practical self-care strategies. Activities using visual art were designed to reduce caregiver anxiety and stress. Results from validated scales such as Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS), WHO-5 Well-Being Index (WHO-5), and a unique caregiver wellness survey (CWS) in a small sample showed that the workshop was beneficial in improving the participants’ mindset while also improving awareness regarding their own mental health. However, it must be noted that the small sample size may limit interpretation of the true effectiveness of the workshop, as observed in the CWS survey. To further improve understanding of caregiver wellness, we plan to offer additional workshops to increase the sample size of future studies. We intend to utilize the findings from these preliminary data to better address gaps in caregiver well-being and improve quality of life.
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Mental and Social Health | Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene
Impact of a Caregiver Wellness Workshop on Well-Being and Mental Health
Family caregivers provide care for loved ones by addressing their activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and psychological needs. These demands impact a caregiver’s time and overall well-being. To address burnout and improve education regarding caregiver wellness, a workshop was created to build an effective support system for caregivers and teach them practical self-care strategies. Activities using visual art were designed to reduce caregiver anxiety and stress. Results from validated scales such as Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS), WHO-5 Well-Being Index (WHO-5), and a unique caregiver wellness survey (CWS) in a small sample showed that the workshop was beneficial in improving the participants’ mindset while also improving awareness regarding their own mental health. However, it must be noted that the small sample size may limit interpretation of the true effectiveness of the workshop, as observed in the CWS survey. To further improve understanding of caregiver wellness, we plan to offer additional workshops to increase the sample size of future studies. We intend to utilize the findings from these preliminary data to better address gaps in caregiver well-being and improve quality of life.