INNOVATING CAREGIVER EDUCATION: INCLUDING COOPERATIVE EXTENSION IN RURAL CAREGIVING EDUCATION

Abstract

Studies consistently report that caregivers under utilize resources, citing unawareness or inability to access programs as barriers to service utilization. Family and Consumer Science (FCS) educators within Extension have a unique blend of training that can help transform access to education for rural caregivers. Extension programming covers a wide range of topics, but few have implemented a curricular program or workshops to educate caregivers about caregiving issues. The current study involved a multi-state examination of innovativeness in caregiving program implementation among N = 216 FCS educators employed by the Cooperative Extension Service. Educators rated their perceptions of Extension’s receptiveness to change and personal factors. Results indicated that more urban areas (β = .19, p < .05), fewer years in their current position (β = -.23, p < .05), and greater leadership self-efficacy (β = .17, p < .05) predicted educator innovativeness to implement new caregiver education programming. However, when personal factors were added to the model, only years in current position (β = -.20, p < .05) remained significant. Subjective age (β = -.25, p < .01) and social support (β = .28, p < .01) were also found to significantly predict educator innovativeness. Despite previous research, these results indicate that personal factors may have a greater influence on educators’ innovativeness than organizational factors. These findings are critical when adopting and implementing a rural caregiver education programs through new organizational networks.