FamilyCare Carer Support Services - West Hume Investigating Gaps for Rural Carers through Research Victorian Carer Services Network Best Practice Forum – August 2010 Carol Reid & Lynne Harmer

Introduction

• When does the caring role end?

• When does carer burden end?

• When do carer support services end?

Introduction

“Exploring the role of the carer: at home and in the aged care setting”

Introduction

• More programs need to provide social interaction for carers and care recipients • Hard to adjust when services stop after entry into Residential Aged Care Facility

Introduction

Direct written quotes from the study • “put him away” • “let her down”

Introduction Themes

• Appreciative of service assistance • Services supported their caring role • Appreciated quality of care at RACF • Reciprocal care – giving back to aged parents

Introduction

“This group are no longer carers as they don’t receive a Centrelink carer payment”

Primary Health Care Research Evaluation and Development Program (PHCRED) 2009 University of Melbourne School of Rural Health Shepparton. Funded by DoHA.

Exploring the role of the carer: at home and in the aged care setting Research Fellow: Carol Reid Carer Support Coordinator Familycare 19 Welsford St Shepparton 3630 Ph: 58 23 7081 [email protected]

Research Supervisor: Associate Professor Julie Pallant Director of Research and Graduate Studies Rural Health Academic Centre University of Melbourne [email protected]

The Literature

Key words searched: carer, burden, attitude, aged care, residential aged care facility • Multiple carer studies • Variety of concepts researched • Range of countries

The Literature Review

• Caring role continues in the RACF • Active and direct caring role maintained • Continues over time • Responsibilities are similar

Research Methodology

• Cross sectional (two groups) • Quantitative Ethics approval under a minimal risk application by the School of Rural Health Human Ethics Advisory Group at the University of Melbourne (HREC number: 932313.1)

Aim

To examine and compare carer burden and role attitude in the two settings of Community and Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF)

Definition of Carer Burden

Carer Burden is the subjective belief that current and future resources are inadequate to meet role demands 1 1 O’Rourke N., Tuokko H., Psychometric Properties of an Abridged Version of the Zarit Burden Interview Within a Representative Canadian Caregiver Sample,

The Gerontologist,

2003;

43(1):

121-127

Method

• Postal questionnaire • West Hume Region (5 LGA’s) • Participant criteria • Participant sources

Method

Measures: • Zarit Burden Interview (short version ZBI) 2 • Attitude to Caring Role Scale (ACRS) Specifically developed for this study 2 Bedard M., Molloy W., Squire L., Dubois S., Lever J., O’Donnell M. The Zarit Burden Interview: A New Short Version and Screening Version’,

The Gerontologist

, 2001;

41(5):

652 - 657

Measures Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI Short Version) 3

•12 items • Good reliability • Scale: 0 (never) to 4 (nearly always) • Range 0 - 48 • Score 16 and above indicates high burden

Measures Attitude to Caring Role Scale (ACRS)

• Developed for this study

Example questions

My role as a carer adds meaning to my life My role as a carer is a worthwhile role

Results

Total = 90 Respondents • Community setting 61% (n = 55) • RACF setting 39% (n = 35) • Male 26% (n = 23) • Female 74% (n = 67) 18

Results

Reasons for care: • Cognitive Dementia, Alzheimer's disease, memory loss, confusion • Loss of independent self care Poor mobility, falls, incontinence, arthritis and joint problems, frail and frail aged

Results Carer Burden – Zarit Burden Interview totals

• Higher burden present in both groups of carers • No statistically significant difference between burden scores for carers in the Community setting and carers in the RACF setting.

Results

Attitude to Caring Role Scale – (ACRS) • High positive attitude to the caring role across this group of carers

Results

“Do carers in the Community setting and carers in the RACF setting differ in their attitude to the caring role?”

• A small but statistically significant difference • Higher positive attitude in RACF (median = 20) • Community setting (median = 18)

Results

“Is there a relationship between levels of Carer Burden and the Attitude to the Caring Role?”

• Pearson’s correlation: r = -.20 (p = .08) • Very weak, non – significant association between burden and attitude to the caring role Higher levels of burden do not necessarily lead to negative perceptions of the caring role

Results

“Is there anything else you would like to share with us about your role as a carer?”

Main themes: 1. Service system 2. Rural issues 3. Reciprocal care 4. Family Issues 5. Time demands 6. Carer Voice 7. Loss/grief/guilt 8. Relationship

Results

Rural Issues • Travel times • Long waiting lists • Availability of transport options • Lack/limited services

Results

Carer Voice • “Thanks for your interest” • “Thanks for asking” • “Hope this helps with carer studies”

Results

Time demands • Limitations on life • Life on hold • Multiple chores, not just direct care; banking, transport, shopping, errands, appointments, travel time, visiting

Results

Service system • Fragmented & difficult to navigate • Lack of knowledge, advice, awareness of services • Equity and access • Management of services not local

Discussion

• This research was unique • The Caring role continues after placement • Converting data into a meaningful response

Formulating a service response

1. Best Practice 2. Pilot Project

Best Practice

• Responding to unmet carer need • Liaison with service providers and the community to promote supports available for carers

Improve Liaison

• From the study 91% (n=82) of carers saw their GP as the initial source of support • Referrals to Carer Support from GP’s limited • Carers find services difficult to navigate and fragmented

Pilot project

‘Caring away from Home’

Pilot project First Step:

• Flexibility of service guidelines to be inclusive of carers in the RACF setting • Access for these carers to current activities

Project Aim

• Relieve carer burden with emotional and peer support and education • Social Connectedness • Restructure a new caring role

Project Outline

• Collaborate with local RACF’s • Access to planned carer outings, information and education days

Project Outline

• Formation of a Support Group • Carer ‘Connection Worker’ to visit RACF’s • Explore rural carer needs and links to community options

Project Outcomes:

• Equity in carer support services • Encourage mentoring • Demystify and de-stigmatise entry into aged care • Evaluation of project

Conclusion

Lynne's 3 questions 1. When does the caring role end?

2. When does carer burden end?

3. When do carer support services end?

Conclusion

When does the value of the caring role end?

Acknowledgements

Supervisor: Associate Professor Julie Pallant, Director of Research Studies, University of Melbourne, School of Rural Health • Familycare Carer Support Services • West Hume RACF’s • West Hume Carer Support Groups • Project Funded by PHCRED & DoHA