Health Benefits for Caregivers using the Senior Companion Program

The Caregiver Study builds on previous research from CNCS about supporting caregivers. This summary explains the objectives and the results of the study.

Study Goals

The study explores how the Senior Companion Program effects caregivers' health and well-being.

Its objectives are to:

  1. Describe services received, if caregivers' expectations were met, and caregiver satisfaction with respite services
  2. Provide preliminary results on caregivers' self-rated health and well-being

What We Found

  • There was an average of 11 hours of respite services provided per week
  • Groups with high and moderate level need reported respite services helped them find the support they needed for personal time and household management
  • 90-92% of moderate and high need groups were satisfied with their Senior Companions and reported the program met or exceeded their expectations
  • 47% of caregivers with self-rate fair or poor health at the start of of study rated their health as good/very good or excellent at the follow-up

Download the final report to see all the information from the study.

Further information

Program/Intervention
Senior Companion Program (SCP)
Implementing Organization
Senior Corps
AmeriCorps Program(s)
AmeriCorps Seniors
Level of Evidence
Preliminary
Researcher/Evaluator
JBS International
Published Year
2017
Report Citation
Georges, A., Fung, W., Liang, J., Smith, J., Pratt, D., Sum, C., Birmingham, C., & Gabbard, S. (2017). Does the Senior Companion Respite Service Matter for the Health and Well-being of Caregivers? North Bethesda, MD: JBS International, Inc.​