Support for Caregivers after the Loss of the Caregiving Role

By 2030, it is expected that older adults will account for one out of every five Americans (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). With older adults living longer, and living with chronic illnesses and cognitive impairments, comes a greater demand for caregivers and services to support those in this role. The stress of caregiving, including its negative impact on physical, social and mental well-being, is well documented in the literature (Toseland, 1990). Formal services to support the caregiver and address the negative effects are widely available. Fewer studies have examined the need for services following the loss of the caregiving role. This study explored the need for and availability of support services as caregivers transition from an active caregiving role to life after the loss of this role. Through semi-structured interviews of nine professionals from agencies providing federally-funded caregiver support programs and services several themes emerged. The themes related to Caregivers were: identifying as a caregiver and transitioning out of that role, importance of addressing physical and mental health needs and focusing on the strengths of caregivers. In addition, value of planning for the future, linkage to and acceptance of support, time of transition, and urgency and innovation were themes that emerged related to support services. The findings indicate a need for and the value of increased support services for caregivers after the loss of the caregiving role. Implications for social work practice, policy and research are also highlighted

Biology of the Porcupine (Erethizon Dorsatum) in northwestern South Dakota

The summer home ranges, food habits, cover preferences, population dynamics, metabolic rates, growth rates, and taxonomic characteristics were determined for porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum) in northwestern South Dakota. The summer home ranges were 158.2 ha for adult females, 90.4 ha for juveniles, and 57.9 ha for adult males. The population was 34 percent adult males, 16 percent juvenile males, 34 percent adult females, and 15 percent juvenile females. The preferred daytime cover choice was silver buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea), followed by snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis), earth dens, forbs, and low brush. Shrubs were the most important item in the diet, then trees, forbs, and grasses. Buffaloberry was the most frequently eaten shrub, hawthorne (Crataegus spp.) was second. Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), willow (Salix spp.) and green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanicus) were the most common tree species consumed. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), wild licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota), yellow sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis) and bigtop dalea (Dalea enneandra) were the most frequently utilized forbs. Porcupine assimilation efficiency of pine inner bark was 83.6 percent; the assimilation efficiency of alfalfa was 77.6 percent. The resting metabolic rate of adult porcupines in thermoneutrality was 64.67W(kg)0\u2777 kcal/day. The upper critical temperature was 23 C. Rises in metabolic rate with ambient temperatures above 23 C followed the equation RMR = 15.24 + 1.15 X, where X is ambient temperature. Skull characteristics, external measurements, and coloration indicated that the population in Harding County, S. D. is an intergrade between E. dorsatum bruneri Swenk and E. dorsatum epixanthum Brandt

Support for Caregivers after the Loss of the Caregiving Role

By 2030, it is expected that older adults will account for one out of every five Americans (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). With older adults living longer, and living with chronic illnesses and cognitive impairments, comes a greater demand for caregivers and services to support those in this role. The stress of caregiving, including its negative impact on physical, social and mental well-being, is well documented in the literature (Toseland, 1990). Formal services to support the caregiver and address the negative effects are widely available. Fewer studies have examined the need for services following the loss of the caregiving role. This study explored the need for and availability of support services as caregivers transition from an active caregiving role to life after the loss of this role. Through semi-structured interviews of nine professionals from agencies providing federally-funded caregiver support programs and services several themes emerged. The themes related to Caregivers were: identifying as a caregiver and transitioning out of that role, importance of addressing physical and mental health needs and focusing on the strengths of caregivers. In addition, value of planning for the future, linkage to and acceptance of support, time of transition, and urgency and innovation were themes that emerged related to support services. The findings indicate a need for and the value of increased support services for caregivers after the loss of the caregiving role. Implications for social work practice, policy and research are also highlighted