Rebecca Cherry

Lesson Plan
Time: 35 Minutes
Overview:
This lesson will be given at Jacobs Ladder Neurodevelopment School and Therapy Center. This
lesson is directed toward caregiver of a newly diagnosed child with special needs. The caregiver
will learn the importance of caring for themselves and relaxation techniques along with resources
to receive additional help.
Instructional Objectives:
Affective:
1. Caregivers will be able to express at least 2 concerns they have about their own health
and wellness as a caregiver in a small group discussion
Cognitive:
2. Caregivers will correctly identify the symptoms associated with caregiver stress in a
group discussion
Psychomotor:
3. Caregivers will be able to correctly demonstrate ate least one relaxation technique during
a group activity.
Introduction:
Quote: The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the
future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly-Buddha
Fact about Caregivers: Although 3 quarters of the current caregivers feel capable of providing
care, 49% feel overwhelmed, 36% report depression, and 65% have not had a vacation in the
past year. Alzheimer Association
My name is Rebecca Cherry. Although I am not a caregiver myself I have personal experience of
caring for my grandmother when she lived in our home for the last 3 years of our life. I was not
the main caregiver but I witnessed many of the struggles you all go through within my own
mother.

Icebreaker:
Introduce yourself, who you care for, and their diagnosis, and how much time a day do you feel
you have for yourself.
Content:

Caregiver Open Discussion:

o Express feeling on topics given
o Daily struggles of their own health
o Personal health, wellness, and sanity
o Supporting each other through the struggles
Managing Personal Health:
o See attached power point
o The Importance of caring for yourself
o Experiencing the moment
o Stress in Caregiving
Symptoms of Stress
Tips for Dealing with Stress
o Being a Healthy Caregiver
o Resources Available
Relaxation Techniques
o See Attached Power Point
o See Attached Worksheet for Exercises
o Breathing Exercises
Slow Deep Breathing
Breath in and out through the nose
Fill the lungs all the way with air
Use slow, smooth, full breaths
Focus on relaxation on exhale
Use Mindful breathing
Do belly breathing
o Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Start with the muscle the furthest from the core body
Tense the muscle and then relax it
Focus on the feeling of relaxation as every muscle is relaxed
o Imagery
Use all of your sense to imagine the image
Think of the image in color
Skills Learned:
o See Power Point
o See Attached Exercises
o Relaxation Techniques
Use breathing techniques to release stress

Use Progressive Muscle Relaxation to relax tense and tight muscles from
stress
Use imagery to release stress

Activities:
1. Introduction of Health Care Profession, Introduction into the presentation, Ice breaker: (5
Minutes)
2. Parent Discussion :(10 Minutes)- The parents will break into small groups and discuss
topics that the instructor gives them to help discuss life as a caregiver to a special needs
child. The instructor will give topics to help move the conversation along if the parents
are struggling to open up. The instructor will ask the parents to support each other in their
health concerns as caregiver. Affective Objective
a. Topics:
i. How is daily life as a caregiver
ii. Does anyone have any supportive ideas to help other parents
iii. What are your own health concerns as a caregiver
iv. How can you be supported to care more for your own health
3. Lecture on Caring for the Caregiver: (7 Minutes)- PowerPoint instructions on the
importance of caring for yourself as a caregiver along with resources that are available to
help you as a caregiver. Cognitive Objective
4. Demonstration: (10 Minutes)- The instructor will lead the group in relaxation techniques
from the attached exercises sheet along with the power point. They will spend 3 to 4
minutes on each technique. Psychomotor Objective
5. Closing: (3 Minutes)- the instructor will briefly answer any questions that the parents
have, and share their contact information if they need any additional help or resources.
Materials:

Classroom Setting
Computer
Projector
Power point
Attached Exercise Sheet

Relaxation Exercises
Breathing Techniques
The key to deep breathing is to breathe deeply from the abdomen, getting as much fresh air as
possible in your lungs. When you take deep breaths from the abdomen, rather than shallow breaths
from your upper chest, you inhale more oxygen. The more oxygen you get, the less tense, short of
breath, and anxious you feel.

Sit comfortably with your back straight. Put one hand on your chest and the other on your
stomach.

Breathe in through your nose. The hand on your stomach should rise. The hand on your chest
should move very little.

Exhale through your mouth, pushing out as much air as you can while contracting your
abdominal muscles. The hand on your stomach should move in as you exhale, but your other
hand should move very little.

Continue to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Try to inhale enough
so that your lower abdomen rises and falls. Count slowly as you exhale.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Most progressive muscle relaxation practitioners start at the feet and work their way up to the face.
For a sequence of muscle groups to follow, see the box below.

Take a few minutes to relax, breathing in and out in slow, deep breaths.

When youre relaxed and ready to start, shift your attention to your right hand. Take a
moment to focus on the way it feels.

Slowly tense the muscles in your right han, squeezing as tightly as you can. Hold for a count
of 10.

Relax your right hand. Focus on the tension flowing away and the way your hand feels as it
becomes limp and loose.

Stay in this relaxed state for a moment, breathing deeply and slowly.

When youre ready, shift your attention to your left hand. Follow the same sequence of muscle
tension and release.

Move slowly up through your body, contracting and relaxing the muscle groups as you go.

It may take some practice at first, but try not to tense muscles other than those intended.

-Right Hand & Arm, Left Hand & Arm, Neck & Shoulders, Face
Imagery
Find a quiet, relaxed place. Beginners sometimes fall asleep during a visualization meditation, so you
might try sitting up or standing.
Close your eyes and let your worries drift away. Imagine your restful place. Picture it as vividly as you
caneverything you can see, hear, smell, and feel. Visualization works best if you incorporate as many
sensory details as possible, using at least three of your senses. When visualizing, choose imagery that
appeals to you; dont select images because someone else suggests them, or because you think they
should be appealing. Let your own images come up and work for you.
If you are thinking about a dock on a quiet lake, for example:

Walk slowly around the dock and notice the colors and textures around you.

Spend some time exploring each of your senses.

See the sun setting over the water.

Hear the birds singing.

Smell the pine trees.

Feel the cool water on your bare feet.

Taste the fresh, clean air.