Project Abstract
The goal of this project is to assess the impact of the TCARE process on caregiver well-being and preventative health care. TCARE is designed to support family members who are providing care to adults or children with chronic or acute health conditions or developmental disabilities through an array of services for the caregiver (e.g., respite care; stress buster classes). The project will also fulfil aspects of the Respite Task Force legislative duties, which was put into Colorado HB15-1233 creating a “Respite Task Force” within the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). This task force is charged with taking a data-informed approach to determining the dynamics of supply and demand of respite and related caregiving services in Colorado and to make recommendations to improve services for non-professional caregivers (e.g., taking care of aging loved ones, taking care of children or adults with developmental disabilities).
This program evaluation will (1) describe the services and supports that are recommended by the TCARE treatment planning process to inform efforts to improve access to caregiver supports across regions; (2) replicate an evaluation that occurred in WA state that found when care managers have access to TCARE, caregivers report lower levels of depression, identity discrepancy, and burden; and (3) examine the potential effect of access to the TCARE program on caregivers’ use of preventative health care. Together, this will inform the work of the Respite Task Force and CDHS’ decision to provide access to TCARE statewide.
Agencies:
Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Community Access and Independence
Easterseals Colorado
Research Partners:
University of Denver, Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab
Reports
Caregiver Support in Colorado
Lessons Learned from an Evaluation of the Tailored Caregiver Assessment and Referral (TCARE) Process
- Category: Completed
- Tags: #health, #mentalhealth, CDHS, Easterseals Colorado
