Care Alliance Ireland –

Life After Care ProjectLiam O’Sullivan (Executive Director) and Esther Kavanagh

(Administrator)

Life After Care Project (Gruntvig), London,May 10-11th 2010 www.carealliance.ie info@carealliance.ie +353 1 874 7776

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Care Alliance Ireland

The National Network of Voluntary Organisations for Family Carers

66 Member Organisations – 11 Board MembersWe aim to support organisations in their direct

work of supporting Family Carers all over Ireland

We provide information, education & training regarding the needs of Family Carers

We carry out research relating to Family Carers and promote inter agency collaboration

Lead on National Carers Week (June 14th-20th 2010) and Family Carers Research Group.

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Vision and Mission (from Strategic Plan 2010-2012)

Vision That the role of Family Carers is fully

recognised and valued by society in IrelandMission StatementCare Alliance Ireland exists to enhance the

quality of life for Family Carers. We will achieve this by supporting organisations in their direct work with Family Carers through the provision of information, research, the sharing of resources and opportunities for collaboration.

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Carers In Ireland – Some figures and trends161,000 – 4.5% of population , >10%

women aged 45-54, Average no of hours caring is 35hrs per week, with 19% providing >60hrs per week (average 121hours), and 54% providing <14hrs (average 7hrs)

State financial supports for approximately 50,000 full-time carers – between €30 to €195 per week. Existing supports continue to be under threat.

Carers and Work (1)56% of Family Carers in the 2006 Census reported to

be in paid employment. 54.73% of working Carers are female, while 54.27% are male. Of the Carers working, 16% (14,068) were also providing full-time care to a loved one.

Male Carers are more likely to report full-time caring as well as being in paid employment. 54 per cent of male Carers who reported providing full-time care also reported being in paid employment. This compares with 31 per cent of female full-time Carers.

On average, Family Carers who are working outside of the home provide 19 hours of unpaid care per week.

Work and Caring (2)Carers benefit Act - Since 2000 – Legal Right to 2 years off work to provide care

– with job back after two years – CWeekly non means tested payment of €195. c 2,500 (c10% of full-time carers)currently take

up thisWe know little about the post-caring

return to work/volunteering etc. Anecdotally – ex carers become paid care workers.

Role of Care Alliance in ProjectLead on developing Overview Report

on Caring/PostCaring – Drafted March 2010 – final changes following review by partners –on website by May 2010

Fieldwork – Set up Seminar/Lengthy

Focus group with 14 Ex-Carers – Hearing their experiences post-caring - Identifying their needs post caring Feb 2010 - Skills they have acquired

Role of Care Alliance in ProjectHost Study Visit Dublin Oct 2010– Focus on

Role of Ex-Carers in Setting Up/Governing/Managing/Volunteering In Carers and Patient/Condition Specific organisations

Support SOFIA with Development of Handbook – to support transition to post-caring - Jan 2011

Integrate Project Outputs (eg distribute Handbook) in Carers Week - June 2011