The Six Caregiving Stages™ · The Caregiving Years Training Academy
Evidence of Impact
What family caregivers and healthcare professionals tell us about the Six Caregiving Stages™ framework
When measured across hundreds of evaluations from family caregivers and healthcare professionals, the data consistently shows what we've always believed: understanding your caregiving stage changes how you experience your journey.
By the Numbers
At a Glance
The Six Caregiving Stages™ framework serves a distinctive dual purpose: it supports family caregivers in understanding and navigating their own journey, and it equips healthcare professionals with a shared map for meeting family caregivers where they are. Most caregiving tools are built for one audience or the other. The Six Caregiving Stages™ works for both — and the data from 284 evaluations spanning both audiences makes a compelling case.
Want to bring this impact to your local and online communities? The Certified Caregiving Guide program trains and certifies individuals to deliver this workshop in their own communities and organizations.
Denise Brown's program was developed for caregivers by a caregiver. The Six Caregiving Stages™ encompasses the framework of caregiving while including the social and emotional needs of the family caregiver.
Program Evaluation Respondent
This course gave me a framework and a model to put my experiences into. It gave me a way of processing the different emotions I have had and am having.
Program Evaluation Respondent
Healthcare Professionals
Framework Credibility
Across two separate evaluations — a January 2024 workshop (n=86) and a program evaluation series (n=18) — healthcare professionals from a wide range of disciplines rated the Six Caregiving Stages™ framework with exceptional scores.
January 2024 Workshop Results · n = 86 healthcare professionals
Respondents included social workers, registered nurses, physical and occupational therapists, licensed clinical social workers, geriatric care managers, and counselors.
| Program Quality Measure | Agreed or Higher |
|---|---|
| Presenter provided content clearly | 100% |
| Presenter met stated objectives | 100% |
| Program met or exceeded expectations | 100% |
| Program expanded knowledge of the topic | 100% |
| Program provided insights applicable to their work | 98% |
| Information will improve communication with family caregivers | 99% |
| Feel better supported after the workshop than before | 95% |
| Program was sensitive to cultural differences | 83% |
Before this training I was starting to believe a family caregiver would need a coach who had experience with the caree's condition. Learning that the caree's condition may not be the determining factor in the caregiver's experience is noteworthy.
Healthcare Professional, Masterclass Evaluation
I feel more prepared and that I have better language to discuss this with patients and families… as well as with my own family when the time comes.
Physical Therapist, January 2024
Comforting is the word that comes to mind. Caring, creating connection, and brilliant coaching.
EOL Doula & Elder Care Advocate, January 2024
This Masterclass was extremely insightful. Presenter was professional and very compassionate as she conveyed this very sensitive topic. She answered questions with heartfelt responses.
Healthcare Professional, January 2024
Program Evaluation Series · n = 18 professionals
| Program Quality Measure | Rating |
|---|---|
| Organized & effective | 100% Excellent |
| Clearly presented subject matter | 100% Excellent |
| Made content applicable to participants | 100% Excellent |
| Expanded / enhanced understanding or skills | 100% Excellent |
| Met stated objectives | 100% Excellent |
| Skills I can use in my work | 100% Agree |
| Will improve my communication with family caregivers | 100% Agree |
The 6 Stages is such an amazing tool. I love their simplicity and yet their wide reach regardless of caregiving specifics like diagnosis. They are universal, which I find to be a huge advantage for connection as caregivers.
Program Evaluation Respondent
This program is so in-depth and has touched subjects about caregiving that I was not even aware of. Very helpful not just in my profession but also on a personal level.
Program Evaluation Respondent
Family Caregivers
Workshop Effectiveness
A pre- and post-workshop evaluation (n=53 matched pairs) measured change across six key caregiver outcomes on a 1–5 scale. All six outcomes improved. Five of six reached the highest level of statistical significance.
| Outcome | Before | After | Change | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caregiving emotions feel normal | 4.57 / 5 | 4.86 / 5 | +0.30 | p < 0.01 |
| Feeling empowered to continue | 4.02 / 5 | 4.67 / 5 | +0.65 | p < 0.001 |
| Connected to answers | 3.90 / 5 | 4.78 / 5 | +0.88 | p < 0.001 |
| Ability to plan for the future | 4.00 / 5 | 4.71 / 5 | +0.71 | p < 0.001 |
| Ability to prepare for what's next | 3.86 / 5 | 4.79 / 5 | +0.93 | p < 0.001 |
| Ability to implement coping strategies | 3.88 / 5 | 4.81 / 5 | +0.93 | p < 0.0001 |
The Stages address two questions that family caregivers often have: "Why me?" and "Why now?" — and help them understand that what they are feeling and thinking is normal.
Family Caregiver, Class Evaluation
I have felt isolated and thought my feelings and thoughts were unique to me and my caregiving situation. It felt good to realize that there is a framework — a North Star to follow.
Family Caregiver, Class Evaluation
The feelings I have had during this journey are OK. It's part of the process of giving of myself to someone else. I will allow myself time to process the grief and to mourn the loss.
Family Caregiver, Class Evaluation
Caregiver Voices
What Family Caregivers Say
Across two caregiver class evaluations (n=127 combined), family caregivers shared what the Six Caregiving Stages™ framework meant to them. Five themes emerged consistently across their responses.
- The stages normalize the caregiving experience. Family caregivers repeatedly described relief at learning their feelings are expected and shared — not a sign of weakness or failure.
- The framework helps caregivers understand where they are in their journey. "Caregivers move through stages without recognizing it" was a sentiment echoed across many responses.
- The keyword structure gives a concrete next step during difficult moments. "The words for each stage are a coping mechanism, and they build upon one another" — family caregivers valued having a single word to return to in hard times.
- The framework extends beyond individual situations. Family caregivers recognized the stages in the experiences of other family members, friends, and colleagues — not just their own.
- The content has direct professional application. Coaches, nurses, counselors, and other professionals described how they would use the framework with the people they serve.
Ready to Understand Your Caregiving Journey?
Learn which of the Six Caregiving Stages™ you're in and discover the resources, strategies, and community waiting for you.
Find Your Caregiving Stage Become a Certified Caregiving Guide Learn About the Six StagesData collected across multiple evaluations of The Caregiving Years Training Academy programs, including a January 2024 workshop (n=86 healthcare professionals), a program evaluation series (n=18 professionals), a pre- and post-workshop survey of family caregivers (n=53 matched pairs, 2019), and two caregiver class evaluations (n=127 combined responses). Statistical analysis conducted using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Effect sizes ranged from r=0.42 to r=0.71.
The Six Caregiving Stages™ is a proprietary framework. © The Caregiving Years Training Academy · careyearsacademy.com
