Can I Help You, Medical Mom? A Caregiver Care Plan to Address the Mental Health Crisis of Mothers of Young Children with Complex Medical Needs

Abstract

By creating a model for a novel Caregiver Care Plan, this study seeks to utilize social support interventions in order to address the mental health crisis of mothers of young children with complex medical needs, otherwise known as medical moms. The mental health of caregivers and medical moms can be identified as a public health crisis; caregivers and mothers of young children with complex medical needs face higher rates of depression, anxiety, stress, and even higher mortality rates. Due to a shortage of literature on the challenges of and treatments for medical moms, empirically supported elements of social support treatments for experientially similar groups are investigated and adapted. This study utilizes the social support stress buffering theory, nursing care plans, existing treatments for caregiver mental health, and mostly, evidence-based elements of postpartum care plans in order to create the Caregiver Care Plan model. This model specifies the common challenges of medical moms and outlines the following steps to create an individualized care plan: risk and mental health assessment; qualitative assessment of context, needs, and existing support; support group or mentor; home visitation based on level of risk; assignment of responsibilities to support providers; provision of education, referrals, and anticipatory resources; creation of the tangible care plan; and evaluation of outcomes. The Caregiver Care Plan benefits from its holistic approach, measurement of outcomes, potential financial incentives, and positive mental health implications for other family members. This model could be adapted to fit the needs of other caregiver groups.