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Supporting Family Carers

Supporting Family Carers National Consultation with Family Carers on the enhancement of Carer Support Groups 29 th March 2014. Background. Nationwide survey 5,000 distributed Response rate 10% - 505 completed surveys Promoted through social media, support groups, newsletter and hard copy

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Supporting Family Carers

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  1. Supporting Family Carers National Consultation with Family Carers on the enhancement of Carer Support Groups 29th March 2014

  2. Background • Nationwide survey 5,000 distributed • Response rate 10% - 505 completed surveys • Promoted through social media, support groups, newsletter and hard copy • 35 questions (open and closed) • Aimed at carers attending and not attending support groups

  3. Some Key Findings Findings presented according to questions: • Profile of respondents • Support Group Attendance • Carers Experience of Support Groups • Enhancement of Support Groups • Support Group Logistics

  4. Profile of Respondents • 84% Female and 16% Male • 83% Family Carers • 9% Former Family Carers • 54% are aged between 45 and 64 • 25% caring between 5 and 10 years • 48% caring for a son/daughter • 23% caring for parent • 22% caring for a partner/spouse

  5. Support Group Attendance • 43% currently attending Carers Support Groups • 57% not attending Carers Support Groups • Reasons for non attendance include: • Caring responsibilities (65%) • Meeting times don’t suit (18%) • Transport issues (13%) • Significant number not aware of Support Groups in their area.

  6. Carers Experience of Support Groups • Positive words respondents associate with Support Groups include: • “Warm, Friendly, supportive, kindness, understanding” • Negative words respondents associate with Support Groups include: • Limited, disappointing, underfunded, for older people, not inclusive, let down”

  7. Name Support Groups • 50% believe name should not change • 40% no opinion on same • 10% would like to see name changed • Suggestions include: • Family Support Group • Young at heart Group • Social Support Group • Carers Information Group

  8. Enhancement of Carers Support Groups • 82% find the Carers Associations Support Groups useful • 18% not useful • Positive comments included: • “Great place to get information, share problems, relaxing, oasis of calm, reduce isolation “ • Negative comments included: • “Didn’t know they existed, they just sit around drinking tea, no meetings in my area “

  9. Enhancement of Support Groups • When asked what would they change • 52% said “Nothing” – leave as is • Other responses included: • “Don’t meet other groups enough, try to involve more men, more support for former carers, more guest speakers, Specific themed groups, make it more orientated towards younger people”

  10. Main Benefits • When asked what are the main benefits you want to derive from Support Groups: • “Support, information and advice, time out, ease stress, social contact, advocacy, combat isolation, training, exchange ideas, medical advice, techniques to help with feeding, lobbying and protesting”

  11. Benefits • 89% stated that they are satisfied that their goals are being met • 11% stated they are not • 91% stated they are satisfied with their facilitator • 9% stated they were not satisfied with their facilitator • 36% of carers said they would be willing to facilitate group with training

  12. Types of Groups • 35% stated they would like informal groups to socialise and network • 28% stated condition specific groups • 26% stated support groups for children with disabilities under 18 • 22% stated virtual/online support groups • 19% continue with current model Note some people ticked more than one box on this question

  13. Frequency of meetings • 62% meeting monthly • 16% weekly • 14% every two months • 8% quarterly • Preferred day of the week • 29% any day • 25% Wednesday • 22% Tuesday

  14. Online/virtual groups • 64% said they would avail of virtual/online support groups • 36% said they would not • Of those who said yes: • 47% said monthly • 42% said weekly • 8% said every two weeks • 3% quarterly

  15. Online/virtual groups • When asked how they envisage them working: • Suggestions included: • “Closed groups, message boards, chat rooms, facebook, website, skype, email support, online information and advice” • Question and answer section on website

  16. Recommendation 1. 1. Design and implement standard operating procedures for Carers Support Groups to ensure consistency and best practice across the network. • Ensuremix of informal get-togethers and structured guest speakers

  17. Recommendation 2. • Design and deliver training programme for Support Group Facilitators • Include family carers who have expressed interest in same (36% of those surveyed)

  18. Recommendation 3. 3. Address low percentage of male carers attending support groups • Contact male groups to ascertain their needs • Establish referral system with health professionals • Pilot other models such as workshops, seminars, training, mens sheds etc.

  19. Recommendation 4. 4. Address the finding that 65% of carers cannot attend due to caring responsibilities. • Pilot volunteer project to relieve carers to attend support group meetings • Introduce virtual/online support groups • Use careline to make contact with rural/isolated carers/email minutes of local support group meetings

  20. Recommendation 5. 5. Increase awareness of Carers Support Groups across the network • Nationwide awareness campaign to include: Social media, posters, radio community notices, parish newsletters, health clinics, PHN’s and other health professionals, Local interest Groups and other Cost effective methods of creating awareness.

  21. Recommendation 6. 6. Don’t change the name “Carer’s Support Group” • 90% of respondents have no wish to change Carers Support Group

  22. Recommendation 7. 7. Introduce specific themed Carers Support Groups such as groups for: • Parents of children with disabilities • Carers of persons with Alzheimers • Former Carers • Carers of people with mental health illness

  23. Recommendation 8. 8. Explore other models for Support Groups such as: • Specific themed workshops • Training sessions/activities • Lobbying workshops • Virtual Support groups

  24. Recommendation 9. 9. Explore how to develop Virtual/online Carer Support Groups (64%) • Look at best practice in other voluntary organisations i.e. Closed chat rooms, message boards, facebook, skype, email support, blogs • Online information service through Careline • Questions and Answers section on website

  25. Recommendation 10. 10. Explore where and when we establish support groups • Ensure collaboration with HSE and other relevant health professionals/service providers • Ensure early engagement with carers at start of caring lifecycle (Hospital/GP/Health centre based support groups)

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