Equality in Caregiving: Facilitating Caregiver Mastery Among LGBT Caregivers of PLWD

The SCP program is comprised of four pre-recorded Savvy Caregiver videos (each 1 hour and 45 minutes in length). Course material was designed to provide informal caregivers with the knowledge, skills, and attitude needed to carry out their role as a caregiver for a person living with dementia (PLWD). Course learning objectives include: 1) introduction to dementing disorder; 2) caregiver self-care; 3) the anchors of enjoyable involvement; 4) levels of thinking and performance; 5) strengthening the family as a resource for caregiving; and 6) review and integration of the previous sections.

After watching the Savvy Caregiver videos participants will take part in a focus group to discuss their experience with the SCP and how the course material applies to them as a LGBT caregiver. The semi-structured discussion will include, but not be limited to the following questions: 1) Can you tell me about your role as a caregiver? (Probes: living situation, experiences, challenges). 2) What went well with the SCP, and what could be improved? 3) How relevant to your situation as an LGBT caregiver were the course materials? 4) How well did the questionnaire reflect your experiences with discrimination due to sexual orientation and/or gender identity? (Probe about when working with your care recipient's health care providers, in-home aides/visiting nurses, adult day care staff, respite, etc? 5) What are some of the additional caregiver challenges that should be considered in these questionnaires? (Probes: mental health, physical health, and social life strain, Quality of life, stress).