New Models of Care

1. New Models of Care The Social Club Model Presented by Mary Bolger, Services Manager (Kildare/West Wicklow) Alzheimer Society of Ireland

2. Presentation outline • Examine the origin of the social clubs • Outline the study design and procedure • Present the literature supporting the social clubs • Present the core elements of what makes the model ‘unique’ • Reflect staff and members’ experience • Discuss future developments and implications for policy and practice

3. Social Club’s Origin • Identification of unmet need • No service for both PWD and spouse/carer • Carers’ socially isolated • The Social Club • Meeting once a week • Outing every second week • Informal and loose structure

4. Study Design and Procedure • Small scale –mixed quantitative and qualitative • Postal survey to members and staff • Feedback of themes to one club • Interviews with key stakeholders • Analysed for themes

5. Supporting Literature • Dementia and effect on caregiver • Increased rate of stress/depression • More socially isolated • Requires continuous adaptation to change • Loss of confidant • Social Support and Caring • ‘stress buffering’ qualities • More significant in the elderly

6. Supporting Literature • Alzheimer Café Model • Underlying vision of ‘living with dementia’ • Meeting places for PWD and their families, carers • Social and educational • Couple Identity and Couplehood

7. Couple Identity

8. Couple Identity

9. Couple Identity and Couplehood • Couple Identity • “being part of a couple as being part of one’s identity” (Beeson, 2003) • Losing this identity is a real threat – to carer and to person with dementia • Celebrating personhood may require the celebration of couplehood • ‘Doing things together’ – couple receives recognition; carer receives support

10. Unique Elements of Social Clubs • Embrace couplehood • Informal structure • ‘Worry-free socialising’ • Outings • ‘Members’ as opposed to ‘Service-Users’ • Sense of belonging

11. Reflections – members of the club “it makes you realise you’re not on your own” “as a couple it allows us to meet others with similar interests” “outings with security of knowing support and help is at hand”

12. Reflections – facilitators of the club “Forget the formal stuff. People are lonely and they want to talk to others in the same boat” “The person with dementia…..have a contribution to make from a social point of view….very important for self-esteem” “great friendships have been born and we as a group have shared some very happy and emotional days together”

13. Future Developments • Expansion of social club model to other regions • Without losing uniqueness of each group to function as their members desire • Multiple benefits, value for money • Investing in staff and resources

14. Implications for Practice • Some Questions • Should service models continue to separate the couple? • Which is more beneficial for spouse – a break away from PWD or a break with them, with no responsibility for care needs? • By having spouse involved – do we share the duty of care? • Are the club and traditional service models mutually exclusive or mutually beneficial?

15. Implications for Policy • Traditional approach needs to be critically analysed • Policy shift from providing services ‘onto’ to ‘in conjunction with’ • Maintaining couple as central to all discussions regarding care • Re-examine models and further research into emerging models

16. Friday Club, Rathfarnham Monday Club, Bray Monday Club, Athy Grainne Maurice Jenny Helena Patricia Margaret Jean Adrienne Frankie Sr Peig Muriel Mary Leslie