Discussion of Help and Support of Family Caregivers

The role and responsibilities that family caregivers have are multilevelled and can be very complicated, therefore carers need a variety of support services to remain physically and mentally healthy, improve their caregiving skills and be able to provide quality support and care for a lengthy period of time. Many services and programs are available through local government agencies, service organisations, and community-based organisations. Support services include information for carers, assistance with financial and individual issues, counselling, respite, home modifications or assistive devices and aids, caregiver and family counselling, and different support groups.

• Carers Australia represents Australia’s carers who care for people with different conditions and disabilities and provide different services and assistance with their role. It also provides advocacy for carers, and contibutes to the policies and services at a national level.
• Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres provide information, contacts, referrals, link them to professional help and domestic assistance and respite services.
• Support (National Respite for Carers Program) and community care organisations provide respite care, assistance at home, transport and social support so that carers can have time to look after their own needs and health.
• Carer counselling programs and services provide counselling for carers to help them with their psychological issues and to support their emotional wellbeing.
• Community-based and residential respite (day care centres, activity programs, in-home respite services) help carers to have time off, rest, engage in paid work, education.
• Carer support groups (general and specific) provide emotional support, social interactions with people in similar situations, helps build social networks and is a good source of information about entitlements, carer events, etc. Online support groups can be accessed at home.
• Different online or face to face courses, training and education groups can provide better understanding about the condition/illness of the person their care for, provide strategies to deal with difficulties.

Even though the rights and needs of family carers are promoted in Australia’s Carer Recognition Act 2010 and, according to the Act, carers should be: “supported to enjoy optimum health and social wellbeing and to participate in family, social and community life; acknowledged as individuals with their own needs within and beyond the caring role; supported to achieve greater economic wellbeing and sustainability; and, where appropriate, should have opportunities to participate in employment and education” (Schedule 1), it is clear that the needs of carers are not being sufficiently addressed and their rights are not always being upheld.

Finding ways to support families has to be an important government and public bodies’ focus. There are a few ways to analyse strategies on how to help and support family caregivers.

Pre-existing organisational policies and procedures can help determine what support might be needed and how to provide it. If such procedures do not exist, then new plans have to be made to determine how to implement that support for carers. To identify best strategies to provide support and information, research has to be done, in consultation with the relevant Carer Association, care and health professionals. Resources can be allocated, staff training provided and best delivery practises identified to implement new policies and procedures. Feedback and participation can help in analysing further information and support needed.

Research and reports on developing, evaluating, and implementing programs for family caregivers can provide understanding on the challenges and affects of caregiving, as well as best ways for providing caregivers with needed support, information and skills for care provision, reducing caregiver distress, and improving the quality of life for the caregiver and the person receiving care.

I believe, a multilevel approach to caregiver support would be most beneficial and could achieve a high level of participation and positive feedback.

Support at individual level would directly target the caregiver, their needs and preferences, and caregiver outcomes such as their physical and emotional health, knowledge and skills, social support, coping strategies, well-being, and quality of life.

It can also incorporate the family, or the immediate community in which the caregiver interacts such as the neighbourhood and local community organisations. This support would encompass a broad range of strategies including but not limited to: education and skills training which would improve caregiver confidence and ability to manage daily care challenges, social support groups, home modifications, mindfulness training, information provision, stress management techniques, and education. Carer counselling, time for self-care, relaxation training, and different respite programs can improve both the caregiver’s and care recipient’s quality of life.

Organisational level support would include organisations such as health care and social service providers, the workplace, formal care settings, or community agencies (hospitals) - workplace benefits for caregivers, employee education and referral programs, and respite programs (at home or outside of home). It would include connecting various service providers and/or community agencies in a care coordinated programs to address family caregiver needs (not just care recipient’s needs).

Family carers need information and their own support services, but frequently they do not know where to turn for help. When they seek assistance, many community agencies can not provide necessary support due to funding constraints and policies that are inadequate or out of date. The government can help by taking actions to ensure that all family caregivers have access to assistance they need and to practical, high quality, and affordable home care and other community services.