Jim & Tim

Consumer-directed Care Empowering carers to make choices about the support they need to empower their lives Pete Smith, Executive Manager Carer Programs

Themes for my presentation The importance of choice as a way to empower carers to make decisions about the support they need in their caring role The need for a partnership model in the coordination of services for carers The benefits and challenges from the experience of Carers NSW with the Older Parent Carer and My Plan, My Choice programs funded by the NSW Government

A definition? Individual funding as a means to empower consumers Ideally people assess their own needs, and how and by whom these needs should be met People have the authority to make choices that work best for them They also have opportunity to develop skills to maximise control of their lives and their environment

Australian context Increasing policy interest in individual funding and a self-directed approach Interagency cooperation is critical Still tends to be a focus on the person being cared for rather than the carer Transition from traditional funding approaches to those base on consumer- directed care can be difficult and risky

National Disability Insurance Scheme

Older Parent Carer Progam Parents 60 or over caring for their son or daughter with a disability (45 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) Focus is on support coordination to assist carers to – –Pursue their own interests –Build informal networks –Maintain their independence –…….

Liz & Jack

My Plan, My Choice Pilot program Packaged support providing an individual budget that is controlled by the carer and/ or family Package amounts vary depending on need

Consumer preferences Consumer driven, person-centred Independent living within the community Flexible funding

Service integration Individual funding increases the need for coordination and cooperation Could be formal but more likely to be informal The extent of integration will depend on the complexity of the situation

Bill & Alice John & Bev

Cost to Government Should we be thinking about costs?

Potential outcomes for carers Experience of personal wellbeing, physical and mental health Where there is a focus on family, potential benefits apply to everyone involved Satisfaction with social relationships and community participation Improved control, choice, independencies and self-determination

Carers NSW experience – the benefits Focusing on themselves and not the person they care for, talking to someone who listens to their needs, flexibility, working directly with the carer to formulate their own goals and care plan, linking to other services, set up of good social networks, discussing common issues, future planning, having an advocate, purchasing practical support and goods/equipment that they can’t afford themselves but which make the caring role much easier, support in negotiating the ‘maze’ of community services, Carer Assistance Packages, access to Living Skills and Day Program, opportunity to think outside the box

Carers NSW experience – the challenges Feeling that other carers are worse off than them, being wary of involvement with service providers because of past experience, access to services and information in regional areas, flexibility to work with service providers who are supporting the person being cared for, lack of available support accommodation places, accessing other services to which to maker a referral, feelings of guilt because they have access to large amounts of money, not often confident about spending such sums of money in a responsible way

Jane & Meg