“Preventing Elder Abuse by Family Caregivers”
(technical assistance manual)
“A Fact Sheet on Caregiver Stress and Elder Abuse” (brochure)
“Preventing Stress from Becoming Harmful:
A Guide to Caregivers” (brochure)
Published by the National Center on Elder Abuse, 2002

Reviewed by Loree Cook-Daniels

“Preventing Elder Abuse by Family Caregivers,” a technical assistance manual developed by Lisa Nerenberg, M.S.W., M.P.H., under contract with the National Center on Elder Abuse partner Institute on Aging, looks at the connections between elder abuse and caregiver stress and explores options for lowering caregiver stress.

The document is “designed to improve the [current lack of coordination and collaboration between the elder abuse prevention network and that which serves caregivers] by exploring the interface between caregiving, stress and elder abuse, and the networks that serve caregivers and abuse victims. It further attempts to pave the way for better coordination between the two networks.”

The 24-page manual is divided into four parts:

1. Part 1 describes the stresses some informal caregivers experience and the factors that influence the amount of stress they feel.

2. Part 2 “explores current understanding of the relationship between caregiver stress and physical elder abuse.” It highlights the importance of caregivers’ past and present relationships with care receivers and their fears of becoming violent.

3. Part 3 describes community services that may help reduce caregivers’ stress, along with recommendations for how professionals can help.

4. Part 4 discusses resources available to caregivers and professionals, with an emphasis on Internet resources.

This manual can be downloaded at www.elderabusecenter.org/family/caregiver.pdf.

“A Fact Sheet on Caregiver Stress and Elder Abuse” briefly answers the following questions:

• What is a caregiver?

• How large a problem is abuse by caregivers?

• What is caregiver stress and why is it harmful?

• Do all caregivers experience stress?

• Are all “stressed” caregivers at risk for becoming abusive?

• Are there “red flags” to watch for?

• What can be done?

The Fact Sheet also lists key resources. It is available for downloading at www.elderabusecenter.org/family/fact_sheet.pdf.

“Preventing Stress from Becoming Harmful: A Guide for Caregivers” is designed to be a short list of “things you can do” to reduce the level of caregiver stress. These include:

• Join a support group;

• Make use of social services such as respite, support services, assessments, and financial and legal planning;

• Get healthy;

• Hire a helper;

• Learn more about your family member’s illness;

• Learn to identify your “stress triggers”; and

• Learn to respond appropriately to difficult behaviors.

This brochure also includes resources, including websites and recommended reading. It is available for downloading at
www.elderabusecenter.org/family/guide.pdf