Learning to Listen  Listening to Learn Module 6 – Diversity in Caregiving VON Canada Diversity in Caregiving Module 6

Learning to Listen  Listening to Learn Module 6 – Diversity in Caregiving  Learning Objectives 1.To explore the sources of diversity and the specific needs of these caregivers and groups of caregivers. 2.To identify strategies to support caregivers with diverse needs.

Learning to Listen  Listening to Learn Module 6 – Diversity in Caregiving Gender MEN  Provide more household management, financial management, grocery shopping, transportation, and care coordination. (Keating et al., 1999; Crocker Houde, 2001)  Men respond differently to caregiving than women and possibly experience less stress, conflict, and burden. (Ingersoll-Dayton et al., 1996; Crocker Houde, 2001) WOMEN  Women have larger support networks (Barker, 2002)  Women tend to provide more personal care than men as primary caregiver (Keating, 2002)  Women tend to forgo full-time employment, promotions, so they can provide care (McKeever, 1994; Conference Board of Canada, 1999))

Learning to Listen  Listening to Learn Module 6 – Diversity in Caregiving Young and Old Caregivers Two vulnerable groups are young caregivers and senior caregivers:  Young caregivers caring for parents with chronic illness find caregiving, including household chores, to be difficult and time consuming. In addition, their family, school and time with friends are affected. Parents also want to give them time to be children (Lackey and Gates, 2001).  For elderly caregivers caring for spouses, parents, or adult children with lifelong disabilities, the demands increase, while their resources, health, income, and social support decrease. They need support in planning for the future when they are no longer able to care (Martin-Mathews, 2001).

Learning to Listen  Listening to Learn Module 6 – Diversity in Caregiving Rural and Urban Caregivers  While the needs of rural and urban caregivers are similar, it has been found that both groups of caregivers experience different levels of access to support and services.  Since rural caregivers have access to fewer services, the Caregiver Best Practice Team recommends creating opportunities to be innovative to meet the needs of remote and rural caregivers.

Learning to Listen  Listening to Learn Module 6 – Diversity in Caregiving Long Distance Caregiving Members of the Caregiver Best Practice Team noted:  Many long-distance caregivers need support to navigate the system, potentially in provinces where they are not currently residing.  Communication with long-distance caregivers has been facilitated by the use of technology, including .  More research on the needs of long-distance caregivers should be explored, including the cost of caring and the use of technology to support them.

Learning to Listen  Listening to Learn Module 6 – Diversity in Caregiving Disease Specific Needs The role of providers is to ‘listen to the stories’ of caregivers, to help them find meaning and define their role, to assist the caregiver in implementing strategies to care, to deal with change, to make decisions about the future, and to find the help they need (Wilde Kelly et al., 2002).

Learning to Listen  Listening to Learn Module 6 – Diversity in Caregiving Social Support  “Social support decreases stress, burden, and depression (Baillie et al., 1988).  “Intervention strategies to increase social support for caregivers who may be feeling isolated involve the use of technology to link the caregiver community through the Internet (Canadian Association for Community Care, 2002) or telephone support (Grant et al., 2001).”

Learning to Listen  Listening to Learn Module 6 – Diversity in Caregiving Cultural Dimensions of Care  Although it has been suggested that caregivers experience similar rewards and challenges, gaining more insight from different cultural groups would help VON Canada develop and implement culturally sensitive programs and policies to support the needs of these caregivers.  Neufeld (2002) recommends tailoring outreach programs that are culturally sensitive and tapping into the naturally occurring social networks with the different cultural groups.

Learning to Listen  Listening to Learn Module 6 – Diversity in Caregiving Concluding Comments  Not all caregivers are alike. They are unique individuals and groups of individuals with diverse needs.  Sources of diversity include:  Gender  Age  Geography (rural/urban or long distance)  Disease specific needs  Social support  Culture