UTHSC Aging Grant Will Help WellMed Charitable Foundation Develop New Tools For Caregivers In Central, South Texas

SAN ANTONIO, TX, October 17, 2010 (Press-News.org) The WellMed Charitable Foundation will receive part of a nearly half-million dollar federal grant to widen the scope of a successful wellness curriculum for caregivers designed by researchers at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio.

The program, dubbed "Caregivers Stress Busters," will be comprised of nine, 90-minute weekly sessions. Caregivers who attend will learn several stress management techniques including relaxation breathing, guided imagery, meditation, art therapy, music therapy and journeying.

They also will be given tools to cope with grief, loss, depression, dealing with challenging behaviors, positive thinking, taking time for yourself and choosing a path of wellness.

The curriculum will be adapted from a model developed primarily by researchers Dr. Sharon L. Lewis and Dr. Denise Miner-Williams of the UT Health Science Center. Researchers have found that caregivers who completed the program reported decreased stress, anxiety, depression and anger/hostility. They also reported improvements in their quality of life and sense of control.

The WellMed Charitable Foundation will work with partners to modify training material to teach lay people to administer Stress Buster sessions in San Antonio, Austin and the Rio Grande Valley.

The Foundation is the philanthropic arm of WellMed Medical Management Inc., a diversified healthcare company that operates clinics in all three regions. The clinics likely will serve as sites for Stress Buster sessions, along with Leeza's Places resource centers funded by the Foundation in San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley.

The UT Health Science Center recently received a two-year grant totaling more than $490,513 from the U.S. Administration on Aging as part of a slew of federal awards titled Alzheimer's Disease Supportive Services Program: Innovation Cooperative Agreements To Better Serve People with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders. WellMed Charitable Foundation and its partners will receive part of that grant money to administer the Caregiver Stress Busters program.

Increasing numbers of people are becoming caregivers for family members, but many feel isolated and often helpless, which can lead to stress-related health issues.

• Studies have found that caregivers may have increased blood pressure and insulin levels, may have impaired immune systems, and may be at increased risk for cardiovascular disease among other adverse health outcomes. Many die before their care recipient.
• Elderly spousal caregivers (aged 66-96) who experience caregiving-related stress have a 63% higher mortality rate than non-caregivers of the same age.
• Studies consistently report higher levels of depressive symptoms and mental health problems among caregivers than among their non-caregiving peers.
• 20-50% of caregivers reporting depressive disorders or symptoms.

Earlier this year, a version of the program titled "Military Stress-Busting Program For Family Caregivers" received a $357,000 two-year grant from the Department of Defense' Tri-Service Nursing Research Program.

Foundation officials anticipate the program will impact nearly 500 caregivers. Classes should begin next year.

Partners in the program with WellMed are the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council - Area Agency on Aging; Area Agency on Aging-Capital Area; and the AACOG Bexar Area Agency on Aging; Leeza's Place resource centers funded by the WCF in San Antonio and the Valley; and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The WellMed Charitable Foundation (www.wellmedgives.org) is a non-profit 501(C)3 organization that supports seniors and their caregivers in our community with special emphasis on wellness, prevention and living with chronic illness. Established in 2006 by Dr. George M. Rapier III, a noted geriatrician and the Chairman of the Board, the Foundation has contributed more than $3 million to the San Antonio community.

WellMed is South Texas' largest physician-owned practice management company, specializing in senior health care since 1990. With more than 30 medical clinics in Texas and Florida, the mission of the healthcare company and insurance provider is to change the face of healthcare delivery for seniors.