Supporting Mental Health and Reducing Care Stress in Caregivers of Persons With Cardiovascular Disease

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the preliminary efficacy, feasibility, acceptability, and barriers and facilitators to implementation of the Confident Caregiver intervention among family caregivers of persons with cardiovascular disease participating in cardiac rehabilitation. Caregivers receive four individualized intervention sessions focused on assessment of caregiving challenges, tailored coaching, stress reduction, education, and referrals to supportive resources. Outcomes include reductions in caregiving-related challenges, improvements in mental health, and reductions in stress.

Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years of age or older * Is a caregiver for a patient receiving care in our UC Davis Cardiac Rehabilitation Clinic. A caregiver is defined as someone who provides support to the patient with one or more basic or instrumental activities of daily living. * Has one or more caregiving-related challenges or issues that they would like support with * Is able to read and speak in English Exclusion Criteria: * Is a paid professional caregiver with no family or fictive kin relationship with the care recipient * Has a diagnosis of major cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's or related dementias * Is unable to complete the protocol or participate in the intervention (e.g., unavailable during the intervention period, unable to access or use virtual meeting technology)