Are you a rural caregiver? A free online workshop may benefit you and your care partner.

Stress, isolation and declining physical health: Caregivers for people with memory loss provide much-needed support but often also suffer themselves.

And in a state as vast as Texas -- where almost 70% of counties are designated as rural -- caregivers in rural communities face added challenges like fewer opportunities to meet other caregivers or receive caregiver services.

The Rural Dementia Caregiver Project is looking for people to help change this.

The project is seeking participants from around the country for a nationwide clinical trial to better equip rural caregivers with the skills and resources necessary to navigate these tricky circumstances.

Funded by the National Institute on Aging and conducted by the University of California, San Francisco, the study consists of a free six-week online workshop. It is designed to help rural caregivers of people with memory loss reduce their overall stress, better manage the challenging behaviors of their care partners, better care for themselves and plan for their future.

“Giving rural caregivers an online workshop they can access from home, day or night, is a good option in these extraordinary times,” said Veronica Yank, principal investigator and associate professor of medicine at UCSF. “If found to be effective, this workshop could improve caregiver health and the well-being of their care partner, an obvious win-win.”

Led by two caregiver facilitators, the 20-person small group workshops will take place online two or more times a week for 10-30 minutes at a time.

Once enrolled, participants will be asked to fill out four surveys: one now, one in about two months, one in six months and one in a year. In addition to receiving $20 per survey, participants gain valuable information from the workshop, a free workshop booklet and an opportunity to connect with other caregivers.

You are eligible to participate if you:

• Live in a rural area of the United States;
• Give care at least 10 hours a week for a family member or friend with memory problems (by care, we mean helping with dressing, meals, transportation, medications, appointments, or similar support);
• Are 18 years of age or older;
• Read and write English;
• Have internet access.

Because it is a study, some participants will be asked to wait a year to take the workshop. However, they will still be paid for completing each survey and will receive phone calls and resources from staff.

The research team includes investigators from UCSF, Texas A&M University and Stanford University.

For additional information, visit caregiverproject.ucsf.edu, email caregiverproject@ucsf.edu or call (833) 634-0603 toll-free.