1. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE INFORMAL CAREGIVER 5 December 2000 CHCA 2000 CONFERENCE Faye Porter and Bonnie Schroeder VON Canada 1 Responding to Caregiver Needs

2. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE INFORMAL CAREGIVER 5 December 2000 CHCA 2000 CONFERENCE Faye Porter and Bonnie Schroeder VON Canada 2 LEARNING OBJECTIVES  Gain an understanding of the national initiatives  Identify human resources needs today and in the future  Learn about community-based training programs and best practices

3. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE INFORMAL CAREGIVER 5 December 2000 CHCA 2000 CONFERENCE Faye Porter and Bonnie Schroeder VON Canada 3 DEFINITION Informal caregivers are family members, friends and neighbours who provide the bulk of ongoing care and assistance, without pay, to Canadians in need of support due to chronic physical or mental health conditions, frailty, life threatening illness, or from acute care treatments.

4. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE INFORMAL CAREGIVER 5 December 2000 CHCA 2000 CONFERENCE Faye Porter and Bonnie Schroeder VON Canada 4 CREATING AWARENESS  Informal caregivers are not sufficiently recognized  The costs to the informal caregivers and to society have been overlooked  The needs of informal caregivers are not being addressed

5. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE INFORMAL CAREGIVER 5 December 2000 CHCA 2000 CONFERENCE Faye Porter and Bonnie Schroeder VON Canada 5 CREATING AWARNESS (cont’d)  2.8 million Canadians (14% of women and 10% of men) provide care to people with physical limitations or long term health problems of 6 months or longer  over 5 billion dollars per year, and is equivalent to the work of 276,509 full time employees

6. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE INFORMAL CAREGIVER 5 December 2000 CHCA 2000 CONFERENCE Faye Porter and Bonnie Schroeder VON Canada 6 OUR CHANGING ENVIRONMENT  Growing Numbers And Changing Needs Of Persons Requiring Care Growing senior population Dementia Increased life expectancy

7. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE INFORMAL CAREGIVER 5 December 2000 CHCA 2000 CONFERENCE Faye Porter and Bonnie Schroeder VON Canada 7 OUR CHANGING ENVIRONMENT (cont’d)  Government Policies and Changing Health Care Practices Shift to the Community Development of Home Care Ambulatory Care/ Medical Technologies

8. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE INFORMAL CAREGIVER 5 December 2000 CHCA 2000 CONFERENCE Faye Porter and Bonnie Schroeder VON Canada 8 OUR CHANGING ENVIRONMENT (cont’d)  Demographic and Societal Changes Increased women in the workforce Decrease in birth rates and increase divorce rate Increase mobility & retirement Changing situations of caregivers

9. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE INFORMAL CAREGIVER 5 December 2000 CHCA 2000 CONFERENCE Faye Porter and Bonnie Schroeder VON Canada 9 IMPACT ON CAREGIVERS  Personal health and well being  Financial implications  Relocation/paid employment impact

10. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE INFORMAL CAREGIVER 5 December 2000 CHCA 2000 CONFERENCE Faye Porter and Bonnie Schroeder VON Canada 10 TAKING ACTION  Collectively, advocating for changes in public policy  Organizationally, developing strategies within community health agencies to address the needs of the informal caregiver

11. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE INFORMAL CAREGIVER 5 December 2000 CHCA 2000 CONFERENCE Faye Porter and Bonnie Schroeder VON Canada 11 VON CANADA’S STRATEGIC DIRECTION  Focus on Social Responsibility as part of our Mission  National Roundtables on Caregiving  Canadian Caregiver Coalition  McConnell Foundation Initiative: Learning to Listen  Local Community Activities, Program Development Grants

12. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE INFORMAL CAREGIVER 5 December 2000 CHCA 2000 CONFERENCE Faye Porter and Bonnie Schroeder VON Canada 12 Canadian Caregiver Coalition The mission of the Canadian Caregiver Coalition is to come together with a unified voice, to influence policy, and to promote awareness and action to address the needs of informal caregivers of all ages across Canada.

13. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE INFORMAL CAREGIVER 5 December 2000 CHCA 2000 CONFERENCE Faye Porter and Bonnie Schroeder VON Canada 13 CANADIAN CAREGIVER COALITION  OBJECTIVES Consultation and advocacy Promotion of relevant research Facilitation of networking

14. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE INFORMAL CAREGIVER 5 December 2000 CHCA 2000 CONFERENCE Faye Porter and Bonnie Schroeder VON Canada 14 CANADIAN CAREGIVER COALITION  Key Principles and Messages Recognition Partnership Caregivers Needs New policy paradigm for care

15. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE INFORMAL CAREGIVER 5 December 2000 CHCA 2000 CONFERENCE Faye Porter and Bonnie Schroeder VON Canada 15 LEARNING TO LISTEN - A New Way of Caring for Caregivers  Purpose: to develop and adopt approaches to be more responsive to the needs of caregivers  Goal: to critical examine VON Canada’s practice with caregivers to determine whether a change is needed.  Intent: to actively engage caregivers as co- clients and partners to support their family members

16. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE INFORMAL CAREGIVER 5 December 2000 CHCA 2000 CONFERENCE Faye Porter and Bonnie Schroeder VON Canada 16 LEARNING TO LISTEN - Process  Survey of Caregiver Needs and Service Providers Perceptions  Focus Groups of Caregivers and Providers  Development of resources including a workbook and workshop  Identification of “best practice” elements to adapt practice and standardize approach

17. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE INFORMAL CAREGIVER 5 December 2000 CHCA 2000 CONFERENCE Faye Porter and Bonnie Schroeder VON Canada 17 STRATEGIC QUESTIONS  What sort of strategic questions are likely to get at the heart of the issues? For caregivers? For service providers? For the community?

18. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE INFORMAL CAREGIVER 5 December 2000 CHCA 2000 CONFERENCE Faye Porter and Bonnie Schroeder VON Canada 18 VON CANADA’S COMMITTMENT  Strategic Direction for the Organization  Social Model, Partnership with Caregivers  Framework for Action: Advocacy, Services/ Supports/ Education  Action Plan  Implementation  Evaluation

19. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE INFORMAL CAREGIVER 5 December 2000 CHCA 2000 CONFERENCE Faye Porter and Bonnie Schroeder VON Canada 19 CONCLUSION  Valuing the contribution of informal caregivers  Learning to listen to their voices  Taking action to make a difference, individually, collectively as well as organizationally