Download - Supporting Family Carers
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Supporting Family Carers National Consultation with Family
Carers on the enhancement of Carer Support Groups
29th March 2014
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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”
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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
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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 “
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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”
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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”
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Recommendation 1.
1. Design and implement standard operating procedures for Carers Support Groups to ensure consistency and best practice across the network.
a) Ensure mix of informal get-togethers and structured guest speakers
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Recommendation 2.
2. Design and deliver training programme for Support Group Facilitators
a) Include family carers who have expressed interest in same (36% of those surveyed)
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Recommendation 3.
3. Address low percentage of male carers attending support groups
a) Contact male groups to ascertain their needs
b) Establish referral system with health professionals
c) Pilot other models such as workshops, seminars, training, mens sheds etc.
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Recommendation 4.
4. Address the finding that 65% of carers cannot attend due to caring responsibilities.
a) Pilot volunteer project to relieve carers to attend support group meetings
b) Introduce virtual/online support groups
c) Use careline to make contact with rural/isolated carers/email minutes of local support group meetings
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Recommendation 5.
5. Increase awareness of Carers Support Groups across the network
a) 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.
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Recommendation 6.
6. Don’t change the name “Carer’s Support Group” a) 90% of respondents have no wish to change
Carers Support Group
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Recommendation 7.
7. Introduce specific themed Carers Support Groups such as groups for:a) Parents of children with disabilities
b) Carers of persons with Alzheimers
c) Former Carers
d) Carers of people with mental health illness
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Recommendation 8.
8. Explore other models for Support Groups such as:a) Specific themed workshops
b) Training sessions/activities
c) Lobbying workshops
d) Virtual Support groups
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Recommendation 9.
9. Explore how to develop Virtual/online Carer Support Groups (64%) a) Look at best practice in other voluntary
organisations i.e. Closed chat rooms, message boards, facebook, skype, email support, blogs
b) Online information service through Careline
c) Questions and Answers section on website
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Recommendation 10.
10. Explore where and when we establish
support groups a) Ensure collaboration with HSE and other
relevant health professionals/service providers
b) Ensure early engagement with carers at start of caring lifecycle (Hospital/GP/Health centre based support groups)