July 16, 2025
At some point in your life, you may be called upon to become a caregiver for someone with a chronic condition, perhaps for an aging parent, an ailing spouse or a child with special needs.
“To be an effective caregiver, you have to be able to take care of yourself,” says Naomi Meinertz, University of Missouri Extension state specialist in aging.
MU Extension offer a six-week program that helps caregivers do just that.
Powerful Tools for Caregivers (PTC) was developed in Portland, Oregon, in the late 1990s and is now operated by Iowa State University. MU Extension health and human sciences specialists recently began offering the course.
The responsibilities caregivers take on can be overwhelming — administering medication, driving to doctor’s appointments, keeping up with housekeeping, providing emotional support, dealing with insurance and more, Meinertz says. Research shows that caregiving can exact a serious psychological and physical toll over time, affecting the caregiver’s relationships, work, finances and overall well-being.
“Caregivers often focus so intensely on their loved one that they neglect their own needs,” she said. “Learning self-care helps them maintain their ability to provide long-term support. Many feel guilty taking time for themselves. Of course, caregivers know how to take care of themselves, but the PTC program reminds them to put that knowledge into practice and gives them ‘permission’ to take care of themselves.”
PTC was originally developed for caregivers of adults with chronic conditions. It later expanded to include classes for parents of children with special needs. The program focuses on self-care, managing emotions, boosting self-confidence and accessing community resources. During six weekly classes, participants learn tools for reducing stress, setting goals and making tough decisions. Two certified instructors jointly lead the classes, which typically have about 6-15 caregiver attendees.
The virtual program is available statewide by any of the trained PTC leaders.
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