International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 4 authors, 2 centres
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This pilot study implemented a 10-week virtual multimodal intervention for 12 unpaid caregivers and 8 older adults with visual impairments to improve quality of life and teach accessible recreational activities. Preliminary pre-post data suggested possible improvements in some quality-of-life measures, but the small sample size prevented statistical analysis, limiting the ability to infer efficacy.
This study piloted a home-based, virtual intervention aimed at improving the quality of life and well-being of unpaid caregivers and their adult care recipients with visual impairments. The background notes the growing need for such caregivers and the unique stressors of caring for individuals with vision loss, including high caregiving burden and reduced quality of life. Methods involved a 10-week, single-arm, pre-post design with 12 caregivers and 8 care recipients. The intervention consisted of weekly, participant-chosen workshops delivered via Zoom on topics like tai chi, yoga, meditation, nutrition, and daily living skills. Key results indicated high attendance and feasibility, with 75% of caregivers providing >8 hours of care daily. Descriptive analysis of pre-post surveys showed some measures like satisfaction with life and feelings of being overwhelmed improved, while others like energy levels and anxiety worsened slightly. However, no inferential statistics were performed due to the small sample. Qualitative analysis of focus groups revealed five major themes: time for self, barriers, learning opportunities, quality of life, and social support, highlighting perceived benefits and challenges like technology access. Limitations include the very small sample size, lack of a control group, and the potential bias from a participant acting as a co-facilitator. Implications suggest the program is a feasible and promising support model, but larger trials are needed to establish efficacy for this underserved population.
