Resource Guide for Piloting the Caregiver Policy Lens Dr. Penny MacCourt “Supporting Caregivers of Older Adults” B.C. Psychogeriatric Association 2011

Goals of presentation  Review development of CGPL  Review key components of the CGPL  Discuss diverse ways of implementing the CGPL  Incorporating the Service Provider Resource Guide  Sharing results of early adaptors of CGPL resource

What is the CGPL?  A resource to effectively identify unintended negative effects of policies and programs on caregivers, and to provide a common framework to develop and critique policy.  Generated from the perspective of caregivers of older adults, including those that provide services to them  Developed through a contribution from the Government of Canada

How do you use the CGPL?  A series of 11 main questions, with a list of sub-questions, organized as a checklist  Questions designed to be answered with yes/no/don’t know/need more information  Responses then scored  Creation of an action plan

How do you use the CGPL?  These questions are designed to:  Increase awareness about caregivers’ needs  Facilitate the identification of any unintended negative effects of policies on caregivers, and  Promote the inclusion of the caregivers of seniors.  Intended audience: policy makers and analysts, program managers, educators, service providers, researchers, caregiver advocates and organizations.

How do you use the CGPL?  Can be used for as an analytical tool (to systematically examine in detail a policy, program or practice).  Can be used as a process tool (to bring people together and generate discussion).

Why should you use the CGPL?  To frame development of programs and policies that value and support caregivers of older Canadians  To critique proposed policies and programs for potential unintended negative effects on caregivers  To assess policies or programs’ promotion of caregivers’ well-being  To identify gaps in current policies, programs and activities that affect caregivers  To guide studies of the impact of programs on caregivers  To develop a policy response to an issue or need

Development of the CGPL  Spoke with close to 300 interested parties across Canada  Front line service providers, program managers, administrators, policy analysts/developers, non-profit organizations, advocates, academics, health educators, caregivers  Targeted literature review of existing literature, assessments and policy

Key components of the CGPL  Overview of Canadian Caregivers  Background development and benefits of using the CGPL  Summary of CGPL questions  CGPL instrument  Creating an action plan  Appendix One: Challenges in obtaining support identified by caregivers  Appendix Two: Values, principles and key concepts underpinning the CGPL

Summary of CGPL Question Categories  Caregiver Inclusion & Voice  Collaboration  Evidence Informed  Respect & Dignity  Diversity & Marginalization  Choice, Self-determination & Independence

Summary of CGPL Question Categories  Accessibility  Caregiver Assessment  Sustaining Caregivers  Sustaining Systems  Fairness & Equity  caregivertoolkit.cacaregivertoolkit.ca

Implementing the CGPL  Can be used as a tool for analysis (to examine, in detail, a specific policy or program)  Can be used as a process tool (to generate discussion and ideas)  Focus flexible: can use several or all questions to guide analysis/process

Benefits of using the CGPL  Increased awareness of the value of caregiving, and the challenges caregivers experience.  Development of policies and programs that integrate and reflect caregivers’ values and concerns.

Benefits of using the CGPL  Consistent approach to policy development and redevelopment, and critique, that facilitates:  an interdisciplinary, inter-jurisdictional and cross- sectoral approach  information sharing regarding policies and programs  increased sensitivity to issues affecting caregivers  partnerships in identifying and meeting the needs of Canadian caregivers  less duplication and fewer gaps  a society that values and supports caregiving

Examples of a CGPL pilot  A private care organization is using the CGPL to review their “integration initiative”, including all new inter- professional collaboration programs  A health authority is using the CGPL to develop and support horizontal integration among 15 Community Integrated Health Services Practice Leads

Examples of a CGPL pilot  A provincial research center is using the CGPL to ensure their development of on-line resources for senior caregivers identifies key needs, perspectives, and challenges facing caregivers of older adults  The Manitoba Government is using the CGPL to facilitate required program changes of provincial and regional non-profits to reflect criteria outlined in the Manitoba Caregiver Recognition Act

Incorporating the Service Provider Resource Guide  A ‘companion’ resource for front-line service providers, program managers, administrators, health educators, advocates, and anyone interested in strengthening caregiver resiliency through service provision.

Incorporating the Service Provider Resource Guide  The Service Provider Resource Guide is a comprehensive document that includes:  A review of Caregiver Assessment Tools  A review of Caregiver Interventions  Issues in Ongoing Case Management  A directory of Federal and Provincial Economic Security Policies to Support Caregivers  A directory of Federal and Provincial Non- Profit Resources

Reasons to Use the Service Provider Resource Guide  Practical tools and resources to address gaps identified through application of the CGPL  Increased knowledge of issues affecting caregivers  Increased ability to identify, clarify, and solve issues that affect caregiver resiliency  Increased knowledge of system stressors in providing attention and resources to caregivers  Access to evidence informed support thereby increasing service provider resiliency.

Pilot examples using both resources  A private care organization is using the CGPL to assess intake policies to evaluate needs of mental health admissions in residential care, and to help develop a collaborative decision-making model for potential changes to admission policy  Using the SPRG resources to address issues and/or gaps identified through CGPL application

Pilot examples using both resources  A national non-profit caregiver organization is using the CGPL to review their respite programs  Will use the SPRG resources to address issues/gaps once they have been identified

Pilot Resources  Presentations on the CGPL and SPRG  Executive summaries of the CGPL and SPRG  Financial support for incidentals: travel in rural and remote communities, meeting space, refreshments  Possible face-to-face meeting with other early adaptors piloting resources

Pilot Resources  Website: caregivertoolkit.cacaregivertoolkit.ca  Print and CD copies of resources  Resources are practical and easy to use  Can use part, or whole, of resources, depending on need  Can be used as companion documents

Sharing Your Results  Evaluation templates  Case study template:  Summary of implementation  Pilot outcomes  Lessons learned  Sharing your experiences with colleagues:  Hosted information session with colleagues who would benefit from information sharing and knowledge translation

Contact Information Dr. Penny MacCourt Marian Krawczyk