Caregiver Assessment Instrument Development

In 2002, as part of an Area Agency on Aging Title III-E grant project, community based agencies, as well as caregiver consumers, met to develop a caregiver assessment instrument for utilization by agencies within the EduCare consortium. This initial process was very successful and valuable information regarding the assessment needs of agency professionals was discovered. In addition, consumer interviews were conducted revealing the concerns of the caregivers at the time of assessment when they are called upon to reveal personal, financial, and health related information to professionals when seeking help. Once this work was completed, Partners in Care Foundation played a principle role in the development and validation of a new caregiver assessment tool, which proved to be a valid and reliable measure for use among these agencies.