Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

OTD

College

School of Medicine

Department

Occupational Therapy

Committee Chair

Brain Scaife

Committee Co-Chair

Kayleigh Nolan

Committee Member

Amy Burt

Abstract

Caregivers, especially those residing in rural Appalachia, face significant barriers and hardships that can hinder their ability to promote ADL, IADL, and self-care skill development. These barriers faced include geographic isolation, socioeconomic barriers, and a high prevalence of disabilities. Many caregivers may struggle to facilitate these self-care skills competently and effectively, and a gap is present in the most effective means to teach caregivers in this region the necessary skills. With almost 20% of individuals in West Virginia lacking access to reliable internet and physical isolation, many of these educational materials may not be effectively distributed (West Virginia Department of Economic Development, 2023). The purpose of this capstone project is to establish an effective means of educating caregivers and building skillsets through the development of caregiver group interventions, caregiver education, and individualized training. To ensure the materials are culturally appropriate, the PEOP model will be utilized. This capstone project aims to close the gap between occupational therapy practice and the carryover of caregiving skill sets that are often overlooked.

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