Powerful Tools for Caregivers classes help caregivers take better care of themselves while caring for a friend or relative.
We have trained over 4,600 Class Leaders teaching the class at different locations around the United States, as well as in Canada and Korea. The curriculum is available in English, French, Korean, and Spanish. The caregiver class is available online or in-person, depending on location.
In the six weekly classes, caregivers learn self-care tools to:
Reduce
Stress
Increased Exercise, Relaxation, and Medical Check-Ups
Emotion
Management
Reduced Guilt, Anger, and Depression
Self
Confidence
Increased Confidence in Coping With Caregiving Demands
Community
Resources
Increased Use of Local Services
The Powerful Tools for Caregivers program is an evidence-based education program offering a unique combination of elements.
The PTC curriculum was developed over three years of pilot testing in Portland, Oregon and offered since 1998. Originally developed to reach caregivers of adults with chronic conditions, Powerful Tools for Caregivers has expanded the program to include classes for parents of children with special needs. Six class sessions held once a week are led by certified, experienced class leaders. Classes range in size between 6-15 caregivers.
Powerful Tools for Caregivers has been the recipient of a number of prestigious grants, that have supported the development and expansion of the program, including: Meyer Memorial Trust, Northwest Health Foundation, Oregon Community Foundation, and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The PTC class curriculum meets the highest-level criteria of evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion programs per the Administration on Aging/Administration for Community Living. The PTC class series received a 2007 National Family Caregiving Award.
PTC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement:
At Powerful Tools for Caregivers, we respect diverse life experiences and heritages, and believe every person brings a unique perspective that helps advance our mission and advocacy for caregiver self-care.
Powerful Tools for Caregivers is an inclusive program for caregivers participating in the educational program, class leaders and master trainers who assume program leadership roles, and human services organizations and collaborators.
We recognize that caregivers often don’t have equal access to education and support services and we make it a priority to reach out to underserved communities and to address barriers for caregiver support.
Powerful Tools for Caregivers strives to be a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where all employees, volunteers, and board members, whatever their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education or disability, feels respected and appreciated.
Powerful Tools for Caregivers gives you the skills to take care of yourself while caring for someone else.
By taking care of your own health and well-being, you become a better caregiver. Six class sessions held once a week are led by experienced class leaders. Class participants are given The Caregiver Helpbook to accompany the class and provide additional caregiver resources.
The class will give you tools to help:
- Reduce Stress
- Improve Self-Confidence
- Manage Time, Set Goals, and Solve Problems
- Better Communicate Your Feelings
- Locate Helpful Resources
- Make Tough Decisions
Our 6-week PTC class has been shown to have a positive impact on caregiver health.
Research studies find high rates of depression and anxiety among caregivers and increased vulnerability to health problems. Caregivers frequently cite restriction of personal activities and social life as problems. They often feel they have no control over events, and that feeling of powerlessness has a significant negative impact on caregivers’ physical and emotional health.
In the years since the program began, extensive research, evaluation and revision has been done to ensure its continued value and success. The 6-week PTC class has been shown to have a positive impact on caregiver health for a diverse group of caregivers including:
- Spouses/partners
- Diverse ethnic communities
- Adult children of aging parents
- Caregivers of children with special health and behavioral needs
- Caregivers in both rural and urban communities
- Spanish and Korean speaking caregivers
References & Recognition
In 2012, the Powerful Tools for Caregivers program was deemed to have met the highest-level criteria of evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion programs by the Administration for Community Living/Administration on Aging. To access a listing on the NCOA web site go to the NCOA website’s AoA Title III D web page and scroll to page 31.
2020-Present
Fox, A.L., Riggs, N.R., Yancura, L., Sharp, J.L., & Fruhauf, C.A. (2022). Translating discovery science. Improving self-efficacy in grandparents raising grandchildren: Results from a strengths-based education intervention. Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science, 72(3), 966-975.
Fruhauf, C.A., Mendoza, A.N., Fox, A.L., Greenwood-Junkiermeier, H, Riggs, N.R., & Yancura, L.A. (2022). Positive health behavior changes in custodial grandparents and grandchildren following an intervention. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7), 4027.
Fruhauf, C.A., Yancura, L.A., Greenwood-Junkiermeier, H., Riggs, N.R., Fox, A.L., Mendoza, N., & Ooki, N. (2022). Community-based participatory research: The important role of university-community partnerships to support grandparents. Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Sciences, 71(4), 1470-1483.
Kim, D., Peterson, N., & Lee, J. E. (2022). Caregiving outcomes of sub/urban and rural caregivers: The Powerful Tools for Caregivers program. Clinical Gerontologist, 1-12.
Kim, E., Lee, G., & Lee, J.E. (2023). Racial differences in the association between sense of control and social support: A cross-lagged panel analysis. Innovation in Aging, 7(Suppl. 1), 368-369.
Lee, J.E., Meinertz, N., & Savla, T. (2023). Examining opportunities to align with the unifying goal of helping caregivers: A strength-based model. Innovation in Aging, 7(Suppl. 1), 369.
Meinertz, N. (2023). Powerful Tools for Caregivers: The established benefits of a person-centered care intervention. Innovation in Aging, 7(Suppl. 1), 369-370.
Montoro-Rodriguez, J., & Gallagher-Thompson, D. (2020). Stress and coping: Conceptual models for understanding dementia among Latinos. In H.Y. Adames & Y.N. Tazeau (Eds.), Caring for Latinxs with dementia in a globalized world, (pp. 231-246). Springer.
O’Brien, T. (2023). Supporting caregivers of the aging adult: A program evaluation. SOAR @ USA: Student Scholarly Projects Collection.
Serwe, K.M., & Walmsley, A.L.E. (2021). The effectiveness of telehealth for a caregiver wellness program. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 29(7).
Terraccinao, A., Artese A., Yeh, J., Edgerton, L., Granville, L., Aschwanden, D., Luchetti, M., Glueckauf, R.L., Stephan, Y., Sutin, A.R., & Katz, P. (2020). Effectiveness of Powerful Tools for Caregivers on caregiver burden and on care recipient behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of American Medical Directors Association, 21(8), 1121-1127.
2014-2019 (Authors A-L)
Fruhauf, C., Yancura, L., Fox, A., Riggs, N., Greenwood-Junkiermeyer, H., & Mendoza, A.N. (2019). Improving health and well-being of grandparents raising grandchildren: A strengths-based intervention. Innovation in Aging, 3(Suppl. 1), S356.
LaRue, M.N., & Hagen, C.M. (2014). Confidence and awareness of personal health in caregivers of special needs children. Western Institute of Nursing Research Conference. [Research poster].
LaRue, M.N., & Hagen, C.M. (2015). The management of emotions in caregivers of special needs children. Western Institute of Nursing Research Conference. [Research poster].
LePiane, J., & Chyung, Y. (2018). Using quantitative methods to assess program effectiveness. Boise State University Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning program. [Research poster].
2014-2019 (Authors M-Z)
Rosney, D.M., Noe, M.F., & Horvath, P.J. (2017). Powerful Tools for Caregivers, a group psychoeducational skill-building intervention for family caregivers. Journal of Caring Sciences, 6(3), 187-198.
Serwe, K.M. (2018). The provider’s experience of delivering an education-based wellness program via telehealth. International Journal of Telerehabilitation, 10(2).
Serwe, K.M., & Bowman, C. (2018). Telehealth experiential learning: A pilot study of the client’s experience. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 2(2).
Serwe, K.M., Hersch, G.I., & Pancheri, K. (2017). Feasibility of using telehealth to delivery the Powerful Tools for Caregivers program. International Journal of Telerehabilitation, 9(1).
Serwe, K. M., Hersch, G.I., Pickens, N.D., & Pancheri, K. (2017). Caregiver perceptions of a telehealth wellness program. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71(4).
Serwe, K.M., Scloer, L., & Vigna, S. (2019). Increasing caregiver access to programming: A qualitative exploration of caregivers’ experience of a telehealth Powerful Tools for Caregivers program. Home Healthcare Now, 37(5), 273-280.
Serwe, K.M., & Walmsley, A.L.E. (2019). Pilot study of a telehealth delivery method for Powerful Tools for Caregivers. Activities, Adaptations, & Aging, 44(4), 292-308.
2013 and Earlier
Boise, L., Congleton, L., & Shannon, K. (2005). Empowering family caregivers: The Powerful Tools for Caregivers program. Educational Gerontology, 31, 573-586.
Kuhn, D., Fulton, B.R., & Edelman, P. (2003). Powerful Tools for Caregivers: Improving self-care and self-efficacy of family caregivers. Alzheimer’s Care Quarterly, 4(3), 189-200.
LaRue, M.N., & Hagen, C.M. (2013). Improving the confidence level of caregivers of children with special needs. Western Institute of Nursing Research Conference. [Research poster].
Rosenberg, E., & Gouge, N. Powerful Tools for Caregivers: Teaching skills that reduce stress and increase self-confidence. Age in Action, 22(2), 1-5.
Savundranayagam, M.Y. (2013). Receiving while giving: The differential roles of receiving help and satisfaction with help on caregiver rewards among spouses and adult-children. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 29(1).
Savundranayagam, M.Y., & Brintnall-Peterson, M. (2010). Testing self-efficacy as a pathway that supports self-care among family caregivers in a psychoeducational intervention. Journal of Family Social Work, 13(2), 149-162.
Savundranayagam, M.Y, Montgomery, R.J.V., Kosloski, K., & Little, T.D. (2011). Impact of a psychoeducational program on three types of caregiver burden among spouses. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 26(4).
Won Won, C., Sizer Fitts, S., Favaro, S., Olsen, P., Phelan, E.A. (2008). Community-based “powerful tools” intervention enhances health of caregivers. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 46(1), 89-100.
