According to a survey conducted by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP in 1996, nearly one in four (22.4 million) U.S. households reported providing care in one degree or another to elderly relatives or friends. Of this population, 15% reported experiencing physical or mental health problems due to the stress of caregiving. This connection between the stress of caregiving and health can have a far-reaching impact on the workplace, the healthcare system, the economy, and society as a whole. With this in mind, Stress Reduction for Caregivers addresses the issue of how to help caregivers manage and reduce their stress level. This book is unique in that it bridges the gap between research and practice.

It includes an in-depth discussion of the stress and coping therories of caregiving developed by researchers in recent years. It also lays out a simple, practical training approach that utilizes four stress reeduction techniques to assist professionals in adapting theories to their practice: Stress Stress Level Monitoring, Relaxation Training, Scheduling Relaxing Events, and Cognitive Restructuring. Each technique is accompanied by case studies that demonstrate both the effectiveness and the challenges of applying the overall approach. With its strong base in research and its practical concern for the management and reduction of caregiver stress, this book is a must for professionals who desire to stay abreast of the latest techniques. It will also be of great benefit to advanced students examining the issues of caregiving.