The Caregiver Support Model for Informal Caregivers of Frail Older Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial

TL;DR

A new caregiver support model improves outcomes for family caregivers of frail older adults through personalized and sustained support.

Contribution

The Caregiver Support Model provides a structured, long-term intervention that adapts to evolving caregiver needs.

Findings

The CSM led to greater reductions in caregiver needs and improvements in resources compared to standard care.

Improvements were more significant at 6 months, showing lasting effects of the intervention.

The model was especially effective for non-spousal caregivers and those with higher education.

Abstract

Caregivers of frail older adults face substantial challenges, often managing their own health while providing care. To address these issues, we developed the caregiver support model (CSM), a structured approach that uses systematic assessment, personalized intervention planning, and sustained support to address informal family caregivers’ diverse and evolving needs and leverage their resources.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of CSM.

A blinded cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted across 8 centers providing services for older adults in Hong Kong. The CSM is a social worker–guided intervention that integrates a structured assessment of caregiver needs and resources, personalized service planning, and ongoing monitoring over 6 months. Meanwhile, the control group continued with their usual procedures without a standardized caregiver assessment. Data were collected at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months.

We recruited 565 informal family caregivers (281/565, 49.7% CSM intervention; 284/565, 50.3% standard care control). Both groups improved over time; compared with the control group, the CSM produced greater reductions in caregiver needs, particularly in role conflict, and greater gains in resources, such as health awareness. Improvements were more pronounced at 6 months compared to 3 months, indicating a lasting effect and consolidation of gains. The intervention was particularly effective for caregivers in other relationships (not spouse or child) and those with higher education than spousal caregivers.

These findings highlight the importance of long-term tailored interventions that adapt to the evolving needs of caregivers through systematic assessment. The CSM offers a promising approach to enhancing the well-being of caregivers and managing the complex demands of caregiving, particularly in an aging population.

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