A Program to Support Family Worker-Caregivers: An Emerging Social Phenomenon

Abstract

A new role has emerged within the current demographic context of an aging population; namely, that of the worker-caregiver. The person who works and also cares for a disabled family member has personal and work-related problems and is less committed to their own self-care. Improving the perception of social support can be an effective intervention in this respect. The article describes an interdisciplinary program initiated in 2009 to support family workers-caregivers. Its purpose is to promote health and prevent disease risk factors by strengthening self-care skills and the development of institutional policies that facilitate efficient and healthy compliance with both roles. Some of the health promotion strategies that have been used include education for self-care, strengthening family and social support networks, professional counseling and a community of peers. Sixty workers took part in the last three annual cohorts: 83.4% were women, with an average age of fifty. The program has successfully met its proposed objectives by increasing the perception of social support expressed by the participants themselves.