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Acceptability of the Veterans Health Administration's Caregiver Health and Wellbeing Coaching Program: Evidence From a Mixed-Methods Evaluation.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Harris-Gersten, M; Birchett-Street, P; Essex, K; Blue, C; Brown, A; Choi, Y; Dictus, C; Majette, N; Mcmillian, D; Shepherd-Banigan, M; Whitt, O ...
Published in: J Appl Gerontol
December 15, 2025

This explanatory, sequential mixed-methods evaluation assessed the acceptability of the Veterans Health Administration's Caregiver Health and Wellbeing Coaching (CHWC) program from the perspectives of caregivers and staff. Guided by the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability, cross-sectional surveys were completed by 153 caregivers and 53 program delivery staff, followed by semi-structured interviews with 20 caregivers and 14 staff. Quantitative and qualitative data were integrated to examine affective attitudes, participation burden, and perceived effectiveness. Caregivers and staff reported high satisfaction with CHWC, noting improvements in caregiver wellbeing, self-care, and caregiver-Veteran relationships. Participation barriers included scheduling challenges and limited session duration; facilitators included flexible delivery and supportive coaching relationships. Staff also described personal and professional benefits from delivering CHWC. CHWC offers a strength-based, person-centered approach to advancing Veteran caregiver wellbeing and informing enhancements to caregiver support services.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Appl Gerontol

DOI

EISSN

1552-4523

Publication Date

December 15, 2025

Start / End Page

7334648251404131

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Gerontology
  • 52 Psychology
  • 42 Health sciences
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences
 

Citation

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Harris-Gersten, M., Birchett-Street, P., Essex, K., Blue, C., Brown, A., Choi, Y., … Nevedal, A. L. (2025). Acceptability of the Veterans Health Administration's Caregiver Health and Wellbeing Coaching Program: Evidence From a Mixed-Methods Evaluation. J Appl Gerontol, 7334648251404131. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648251404131
Harris-Gersten, Melissa, Pamela Birchett-Street, Kelli Essex, Colleen Blue, Adrian Brown, Yujung Choi, Cassandra Dictus, et al. “Acceptability of the Veterans Health Administration's Caregiver Health and Wellbeing Coaching Program: Evidence From a Mixed-Methods Evaluation.J Appl Gerontol, December 15, 2025, 7334648251404131. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648251404131.
Harris-Gersten M, Birchett-Street P, Essex K, Blue C, Brown A, Choi Y, et al. Acceptability of the Veterans Health Administration's Caregiver Health and Wellbeing Coaching Program: Evidence From a Mixed-Methods Evaluation. J Appl Gerontol. 2025 Dec 15;7334648251404131.
Harris-Gersten, Melissa, et al. “Acceptability of the Veterans Health Administration's Caregiver Health and Wellbeing Coaching Program: Evidence From a Mixed-Methods Evaluation.J Appl Gerontol, Dec. 2025, p. 7334648251404131. Pubmed, doi:10.1177/07334648251404131.
Harris-Gersten M, Birchett-Street P, Essex K, Blue C, Brown A, Choi Y, Dictus C, Majette N, Mcmillian D, Shepherd-Banigan M, Smith IZ, Van Houtven CH, Whitt O, Nevedal AL. Acceptability of the Veterans Health Administration's Caregiver Health and Wellbeing Coaching Program: Evidence From a Mixed-Methods Evaluation. J Appl Gerontol. 2025 Dec 15;7334648251404131.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Appl Gerontol

DOI

EISSN

1552-4523

Publication Date

December 15, 2025

Start / End Page

7334648251404131

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Gerontology
  • 52 Psychology
  • 42 Health sciences
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences