EMPOWER - A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF A REMOTE AND IN-PERSON INTEGRATIVE INTERVENTION FOR CAREGIVER SUPPORT

Sep 29, 2026

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Family caregivers face substantial caregiving-related burdens and need supportive interventions, especially ones that include self-care strategies and can be delivered remotely with broad accessibility. EMPOWER (Engage your Mind and Body to Promote your Own Wellness, Energy and Relaxation) integrates breathing exercises, Tai Chi, and self-acupressure. In Fall 2024, four 90–120-minute sessions (three via Zoom, one in-person) were delivered by a clinician. Post-intervention results showed no significant pre-to-post changes in burden, stress, anxiety, or quality of life. Qualitative findings suggested improved relaxation, stress management, empowerment, and regular practice, alongside barriers including technology, physical limits, and time constraints.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Intervention design and delivery

Feasibility outcomes and analysis

Participant feedback and challenges

Implications and future work

780 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.2650 EMPOWER: A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF A REMOTE AND IN-PERSON INTEGRATIVE INTERVENTION FOR CAREGIVER SUPPORT Katie Trainum1, Rosa Schnyer2, and Bo Xie2, 1. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 2. The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States Family caregivers face substantial caregiving-related burdens, needing supportive interventions, particularly those incorporating self-care strategies that can be delivered remotely with broad accessibility. We developed EMPOWER (Engage your Mind and Body to Promote your Own Wellness, Energy and Relaxation), an intervention incorporating complementary and integrative strategies like breathing exercises, Tai Chi, and self-acupressure. In Fall 2024, we conducted four sessions (3 via Zoom; 1 in-person) to evaluate EMPOWER’s feasibility. Following recruitment challenges, including scammers in the first two Zoom sessions, the final sample included 8 caregivers (7 female; age range 55-90; mean = 68.38; 6 remote, 2 in-person) . Each 90-120-minute session involved instruction and practice led by an experienced clinician. Participants received program handouts and audio recordings for at-home practice. Two weeks later, 75%(n=6) completed a post-intervention questionnaire online or over the phone, including 2 from the in-person session and 4 from the third Zoom session. Data were analyzed using content analysis and paired t-tests. T-tests revealed no significant changes in caregiver burden, stress, anxiety, or quality of life from pre- to post-intervention across all groups. Content analysis of qualitative data suggested improved relaxation, stress management, empowerment, and regular practice. Participants also reported challenges such as technological barriers, physical limitations, and time constraints in both session formats. These findings Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 781 support the feasibility of delivering EMPOWER remotely and in-person for caregivers. Future work should refine the intervention to overcome the identified challenges, incorporate a mobile application for shorter, more accessible sessions, and test with a larger sample.

FAQs

What is the EMPOWER intervention and what strategies does it include?

EMPOWER (Engage your Mind and Body to Promote your Own Wellness, Energy and Relaxation) combines breathing exercises, Tai Chi, and self-acupressure for caregiver self-care.

How was EMPOWER delivered during the study?

In Fall 2024, EMPOWER was delivered in four 90–120-minute sessions: three via Zoom and one in-person, with clinician-led instruction and practice plus take-home handouts and audio recordings.

What feasibility and outcome results were found from pre- to post-intervention?

Paired t-tests showed no significant changes in caregiver burden, stress, anxiety, or quality of life. Content analysis indicated improved relaxation, stress management, empowerment, and regular practice.

What challenges did participants report and what future work is suggested?

Participants reported technological barriers, physical limitations, and time constraints across session formats. Future work should refine the intervention, add a mobile app for shorter sessions, and test with a larger sample.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Rhys