1. Black Birds Recommendations from a caregiver’s daughter
Alzheimer’s Conference 2018

2. Giving care to the Caregivers
The need for caregivers
A personal viewpoint
Challenges of being a caregiver to someone with Alzheimer’s
Lets get specific
Caregivers Burden
Blessing or a Curse
Practical solutions that support caregiver's in their role
Giving care to the Caregivers

3. Findings From Literature Review
Identified barriers for caregiver’s choosing to remain in their own home setting
Manual Handling techniques
Falls Prevention strategies
Showering and Changing methods
Medication Management
Access to Services
Accuracy of resources specific to dementia/Alzheimer’s
Collaborative approach from healthcare providers
Caregiver’s Burden, Depression, Mental Health
Palliative Care Practices
Loss of mobility
Incontinence
Feeding
Findings From Literature Review

4. Programmes Multiple Pathways Variety of mediums Access to resources
Print resources
Pamphlets
Brochures
Guides
Practical Trainings
Workshops
Identification of future needs
Facilitated with the care recipient
Web-based Resources
Online Training Courses
Support Groups
Access to evidence based literature
Counselling services
Face to face support
Phone support for caregivers in rural communities
Utilising caregiver support groups
NASC Services
Multidisciplinary based approach to support services
Community Education & Reduction of stigma
Healthcare Professional Education
Pharmacists
GP's
Mental Health Workers
Programmes
Multiple Pathways
Variety of mediums
Access to resources
Targeting Dementia versus existing caregiver programmes

5. Funding 01 02 03 04 Prioritise what matters most to Caregivers
Living well in a setting of their own choice
Building mental/emotional resilience
Adding value to their role
Advocating for their loved one
Growth and development within their role
Caregiver’s Action Plan
Has it given caregivers all that it promised?
Strategic Funding/Subsidies
Funding
Equipment 01
Training 02
Subsidisation of regular counselling services 03
Recognition of the differences in types of caregiving 04

6. Training Mental Health First Aid In-Service Trainings
Training available from St John’s as of April 2018
Caregiving context – Lets train health professionals and incidental contacts ways to identify early signs of depression and anxiety
Pharmacists, District Nurses, Health Care Workers, Alzheimer’s Society volunteers, family & friends
In-Service Trainings
Make subsided sessions available to caregivers
Manual Handling, Managing Incontinence, Maintaining dignity, Nutrition, Pain identification and management, Wound care, effective communication techniques, Challenging Behaviours
Spark of life & The Art of Caregiving
Palliative Care training, Grief and loss management, Coping with stress
Practical and Professional Resources
Evidence-based literature for caregivers who are seeking more transparency
Resources giving practical and specific timelines for Alzheimer’s progression
As health professionals understand and respect caregivers who choose to remain in their own homes – give information accordingly
Provide strategies to ‘age in place’
Training
Implementing programmes that actually work
Utilise overseas success stories to enable change
Turning the theoretical into practical

7. The Four cornerstones of supporting caregivers
Healthcare Professionals
Care Recipient (including family and friends network)
Government Agencies/Ministry of Health/DHB’s
Media & the wider community
Caregiver

8. References
Ballantyne, M. (2017). How can health professionals better support caregivers and their loved one with dementia, to remain in their own home setting? School of Nursing Online Journal, 4(1)
Angelo, J., & Egan, R. (2013). Essential knowledge for family caregivers: A qualitative study. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 19(8),
Jorgenson, D., Parsons, M., Senior, H., & Thomas, D. (2009). Why do older people in New Zealand enter residential care rather than choosing to remain at home, and who makes that decision? Aging International 34(1/2), 15-32
Kerse, N., Lapsley, H., Moyes, S., Mules, R., Edlin, R., & LiLACS NZ. (2016). Health, Independence and Caregiving in advanced age: Findings from LiLACS NZ. Auckland: School of Population Health, The University of Auckland.