About
Portrait of a Caregiver is a research-based play developed in partnership with twenty-two individuals providing care to an older adult family member. Small group meetings were held between December of 2015 and March 2016 where participants asked one another about their caregiving experiences. These conversations were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed to identify major themes. Portrait of a Caregiver was created from these themes, using only the words of participating caregivers.
In partnership with the Utah Caregiver Support Program, this study aimed to 1) assess the influence of creating a research-based play on caregiver well-being, and 2) increase awareness of family caregiving through performances to the wider community. Data from this study provide support for the frequency of caregiver intervention meetings and survey collection, guiding the development of the Enhancing Active Caregiver Training (EnACT) intervention.
Performances
Portrait of a Caregiver is used to disseminate caregiving resources, promote the voice of informal caregivers, and increase dialogue through performance. Target audiences include informal and professional caregivers, students, researchers, faculty, and community-based employees with aging and adult services.
If you would like to inquire about a performance, please contact Dr. Jacqueline Eaton at jacqueline.eaton@nurs.utah.edu or 801-587-9638.
Partners
Jacqueline Eaton, PhD, FGSA, Project Lead
Dr. Eaton is an assistant professor and director of the Gerontology Interdisciplinary Program at the University of Utah College of Nursing. She holds a Bachelor of Art in theatre art studies, a Master of Science in gerontology, and a PhD in nursing. Her research focuses on arts-based approaches to improving quality of life for older adults and their caregivers. She developed and teaches a course titled Aging and the Arts.
Nancy Madsen-Wilkerson, MS, SSW, Co-Project Lead
Madsen-Wilkerson provides training and education opportunities for many years as Program Manager of the Utah Caregiver Support Program. She recently retired from this position. As a previous family caregiver for her mother and late husband, she understands the role of a caregiver well. Previously she worked as a Certified Long-Term-Care Ombudsman overseeing 71 long-term-care facilities and volunteered with AmeriCorps VISTA for Mountainland Association of Governments revitalizing and expanding caregiver education to seven locations in Utah County and teaching community caregiver education classes.
WALK-ONS, INC.
WALK-ONS, INC. is a non-profit theatre company with a mission to produce live theatrical performances for audiences who are often underserved. In recent years, Walk-Ons has taken a special interest in projects that explore issues related to aging. This is their second partnership with playwright Jacqueline Eaton. Her earlier ethnodrama, Possible Selves, which arose from the experiences of residents in long term care facilities, was produced by Walk-Ons, Inc. in 2013. Other recent projects have included Driving Miss Daisy, Senior Stages-The Art of Aging (in partnership with Davis Arts Council), and The Senior Theatre Project, a touring production which has brought original plays for, by and about seniors to retirement residences and senior centers in Utah since 2006.
Utah Caregiver Support Program (UCSP)
The Utah Caregiver Support Program provides support services to family caregivers. Services include information and assistance, counseling, support groups, respite, and other home and community-based services.
Hartford Change AGEnts Initiative
This project was funded with support from the Spring 2015 Hartford Change AGEnts Action Award with the goal of changing policy and practice in order to improve the lives of older adults and their families.