The CALL Project: Background
The overall goal of this pilot project is to collect formative data regarding the needs of hospice caregivers and conduct a feasibility study of a new and innovative telephone intervention to improve psychosocial care among caregivers of hospice patients. The program will utilize counselor-initiated telephone calls targeted to caregivers of home-based hospice patients.
Caregivers of home-based hospice patients experience multiple stressors that include managing the physical and emotional needs of their loved one, dealing with uncertainty about the disease process, and communicating with health care workers and family members. Caregivers often face an interruption of life tasks and goals, financial difficulties, work-related disruptions and negative social consequences.
This pilot study will entail development and evaluation of the feasibility of a telephone-based counseling intervention for caregivers who are caring for a loved one in home based hospice.