A new service being provided by InterLink, in the Riverina-Murray region of NSW is one good example of a project that is working to help those most vulnerable in our community.

The project started two years ago as a pilot, and has just received recurrent funding – a sign that the model is a good one, capable of making a real difference in the lives of older carers and those for whom they provide care.

Another excellent initiative is Carers NSW Older Parent Carers Program.

Attendees at this year’s National Disability Services NSW Annual State Conference heard about the project through a presentation made by Kate Simpson, State-wide Coordinator, Older Parent Carers Program and policy officer Maja Frölich.

This is a summary of their presentation.

Who are carers?

Carers are relatives and friends who provide support to people with a disability, mental illness/disorder, chronic condition or who are frail aged.

• In  Australia there are 2.6 million carers - 13% of the population
• In  NSW there are 748,000 (or 11%) carers out of which 149,700 (or 2.3%) are primary carers
• 245,595 persons aged 65+ provide unpaid care

The Need for Caring is Growing and Carers Themselves are Ageing

• Between 2001 and 2031 the number of carers aged less than 65 years will grow by 22,000 (19%) nationally
• Those aged 65 years and over will grow by 91,000 (110%)
• By 2031 older carers (65 and over) are likely to comprise 56% of all carers

(Carers Australia 2005, ‘The ageing population’.)

Carers NSW Older Parent Carer – Support Coordination Program Overview

• Carers NSW has over 30 years of experience in listening to and supporting carers
• Carers NSW has undertaken research into the needs of older parent carers and continuously advocated for a program that will address these needs
• In 2004 the former Carers Coalition identified a range of pressing issues for older parent carers:
  • Concerns about the existence and quality of care for their child once they are no longer able to care
  • Physical and emotional health
  • Social isolation and participation
  • Access to appropriate services
  • Financial limitations
  • Planning for the future
  • Accommodation options

(Carers Coalition, 2004, ‘Needs of Ageing Parent Carers of Younger People with a Long-Term Disability’, Carers NSW.)

• Of crucial importance is reaching families and developing future plans while situations are still functional
• Supports older parent carers of an adult son or daughter with disability to maintain their caring role
• Parents over 65 years of age, or over 45 year of age if Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander parents
• Priority is given to older parent carers not currently accessing disability or family support services

Carers NSW Older Parent Carer Program is designed to:

• Build on existing strengths of older parent carers and the people with disabilities they care for
• Identify carers’ needs and assist them to plan for the future
• Connect both older parent carers and their children with disabilities to social networks and to the service systems that can best support them and assist them to realise their goals
• Enable carers to put transition plans in place
• Reach out to hidden carers and carers from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and CALD backgrounds
• Build a more effective service system that can respond appropriately to support older parent carers and their children with disabilities

The program is delivered from four locations:

• Sydney (generic program)
• Coffs Harbour, Dubbo and Broken Hill (generic and Aboriginal programs)

The program includes:

• Funding for Carers Assistance Packages (CAP) which can be used for a range of services if they are not available under other program (up to $5,000 per family)
• Employment of family facilitators to provide intensive one-on-one support to a family within a strengths-based approach
• Assessment based on a holistic understanding of complex family dynamics

Strategies used to reach older carers

• Careful management of client intake through stages
• Specifically targeting hidden parent carers with strategies such as:
  • Leaving pamphlets in RSLs
  • Partnering with pharmacists, GPs, Carelink Respite Centres and Centrelink
  • Advertising in council rates notices going to pensioner home owners
  • Linking with other service providers such as Commonwealth Respite
  • Organising stalls at community events and at shopping malls
  • Making contacts with Elders of Aboriginal communities, advertising in Koori Mail and Koori Radio
  • Using culturally appropriate resources in working with CALD and Aboriginal carers
• Using interpreters for CALD carers when needed
  • A key component of the initial assessment and ongoing work with families is to assist the person with a disability to articulate their hopes and dreams and help to find ways that move them closer to achieving these
  • The strengths based approach and facilitation aims to help address the carer's concerns and to assist their children with disabilities to increase their own capacity to live well and to gain support and social connections beyond that provided by their parents

Some challenges

1. Lack of trust in services
2. Data collection
3. Availability of supported accommodation
4. Home modifications
5. Age limit

Conclusion

• Benefits of the Program:
  • Case management model is strengths based
  • Program’s flexibility – flexibly guidelines acknowledge the variety of caring relationships
  • CAP packages ($5000 per family) allow for significant purchases to be made relevant to each family
  • Reduction of carer stress and improvement of carer’s quality of life
  • Builds carer’s trust and relationship with services
  • There is a real need to continue working with this cohort of carers on a long-term basis
• There is also a need to expand the eligibility criteria so that the younger cohort of ageing carers is eligible – prevention and early intervention