Empower@Home
A self-paced online program to take charge of your emotional well-being
Empower Your Mind, Uplift Your Life
Welcome to Empower@Home! This easy-to-use online program is designed to help you manage your mood and relationships. The program features 9 interactive and engaging sessions, each taking about 30 minutes to complete. By doing one session a week, you can finish the entire program in ten weeks. Empower@Home is tailored specifically for older adults, addressing unique challenges and needs with relevant content. The program is self-paced, allowing you to go through it at your own speed, with the support of a trained coach and a printed workbook to guide you. You can complete the program from the comfort of your home. Plus, it’s an enjoyable way to learn practical skills. Take charge of your emotional well-being with Empower@Home today!
Participant Testimonials
In their own words, Empower@Home participants shared:
“I was at a really dark moment when I entered this program, and I have changed so much, and I’ve learned so much.”
“It made me take time for myself to read, to do activities that I enjoy, to try to be more positive, to take a breath, take a breather, all of those things.”
“When I started this, I would’ve rated myself as very, very depressed. I feel 10 weeks later or so, a very different person. And even my husband has commented on it.”
“What I hadn’t thought would happen was to find the positive aspect of finding out some parts of me that I had forgotten that were there. And that was really, really helpful.”
“Overall for me, the program, this is gonna sound really melodramatic, but the program was actually, I feel, life-changing.”
Research and Evidence Behind Empower@Home
Empower@Home has been rigorously tested in research studies. These studies show that the program is user-friendly and effective in reducing depression among older adults, including those who have very little experience with technology.
Check out our peer-reviewed publications to find out more:
- Xiang, X., Kayser, J., Turner, S., Ash, S., & Himle, J. A. (2024). Empower@Home: Web-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression in Older Adults. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 24, e47691. 10.2196/47691
- Xiang, X., Turner, S., Ruiz-Sierra S., Zheng C., Ash, S., Kodkany N., Dimoji A., Gosdzinski C., & Kubicek G. (2024). Older Adults Experience with a Layperson-Supported Digital Mental Health Intervention for Depression: Qualitative Insights on Engagement. Clinical Gerontologist. 10.1080/07317115.2024.2395890
- Xiang, X., Kayser, J., Turner, S., & Zheng, C. (2023). Layperson-Supported Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression Among Older Adults. Research on Social Work Practice, 33(2), 245-259. 10.1177/1049731520927783
- Xiang, X., Kayser, J., Ash, S., Zheng, C., Sun, Y., Weaver, A., Dunkle, R., Blackburn, J. A., Halavanau, A., Xue, J., & Himle, J. A. (2023). Empower@Home: Development and Usability Study of a Web-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression in Homebound Older Adults. JMIR Aging, 6, e47691. 10.2196/47691
For Community Agencies
Are you interested in providing Empower@Home to your clients? We collaborate with community agencies such as Area Agencies on Aging, senior centers, and other organizations serving older adults.
Our program is designed to be accessible and easy to administer. No counseling experience or higher education is needed to become an Empower@Home coach. The online program is self-contained, and the coach’s role involves providing telephone or in-home support, following a standard guide. Staff at community-based organizations can easily administer the program, even without previous counseling experience or higher education. We also offer training to prepare your staff to effectively deliver the program.
Older adults do not need a clinical diagnosis of depression to participate. We offer several brief tools you can use to screen potential participants. We can also make recommendations based on existing tools your organization already uses.
Empower@Home is a valuable resource for community agencies looking to enhance the well-being of older adults. Join us in making a difference!