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The spectrum of family caregiving for adults and elders with chronic illness Edited by L.D. Burgio, J.E. Gaugler and M.M. Hilgeman

This book focuses on caregiving in the US, where, as elsewhere, family carers are the primary source of long-term care; one estimate presented is that 43 million people in the US are carers of people aged 50 years and over. Most family carers are providing support to adults with chronic illness.

Thu, 05/23/2019 - 14:12

Defining and profiling family carers: reflections from Ireland

The word ‘carer’, meaning family carer, is now widely used, especially in Western cultures. However, it is open to interpretation, is employed differently depending on circumstance, sector and setting, is at times resisted as a label by carers themselves, and is evolving as a term and role. This contribution reviews the term ‘carer’ and how it is understood, with particular reference to Ireland.

Thu, 05/23/2019 - 14:08

The business case for employers supporting carers: reflecting on a UK model

Recruiting, retaining and returning carers to the workplace have already been identified as major economic and social issues in the UK. They are likely to become even more important as a consequence of demographic and economic pressures on families and employers (HM Government et al, 2013). This article sets out the current and future context regarding working carers, as well as the business response in terms of policy and practice, highlighting what has been achieved and what has yet to be addressed.

Thu, 05/23/2019 - 14:03

InformCare: the European information hub on family care

An increasing amount of research in Europe – and beyond – has focused on the development of innovative solutions for providing support services to family carers of frail older people. This is especially the case in terms of web-based programmes. [...] There is clearly a role for well-designed and robustly supported web-based support platforms like InformCare in helping to sustain carers, deliver policy aims and ensure carer access to information, advice and support.

Thu, 05/23/2019 - 13:59

'Enabling carers to care': making the case for a European Union action plan on carers

Research has identified that approximately 80% of care across the European Union (EU) is provided by families (spouses, parents and children), neighbours and friends (Hoffmann and Rodrigues, 2010). Even in countries with a well-developed supply of formal long-term care, the number of ‘informal’ carers is estimated to be at least twice as large as the formal care workforce. ‘Informal’ care provision is under pressure ...

Thu, 05/23/2019 - 13:49

The Dementia Friends initiative - supporting people with dementia and their carers: reflections from Japan

Globally, an estimated 46.8 million people are living with dementia (ADI, 2015). The figure for Japan is 5 million; this represents 15% of all those aged 65 years and over (MHLW, 2015). With no cure and few effective treatments, policy developments increasingly emphasise ‘living well’ with the condition within supportive families and friendly communities (DH, 2009, 2012a, 2012b; WHO and ADI, 2012).

Thu, 05/23/2019 - 13:27

Collateral damage: Australian carers' services caught between aged care and disability care reforms

In Australia, 2.7 million family and friend carers care for people with disabling conditions (including mental health conditions), who are terminally ill and/or who are elderly and frail.

Thu, 05/23/2019 - 13:19

The Taiwanese Association of Family Caregivers: transformation in the long-term care debate for carers

Accepting political appointment from the government is a double-edged sword for an advocacy group, which could mean a chance to influence policies or conflicts with other advocacy groups. The Taiwanese Association of Family Caregivers (TAFC) went through such a process of transformation when it was appointed as a member of a formal committee set up by the Taiwanese government in 2009 in order to develop and implement a long term care insurance scheme.

Thu, 05/23/2019 - 13:04

Family care work: a policy-relevant research agenda

This article addresses the need for policy-relevant research agendas on family care in transaction with formal care and public as well as organisational norms and policies in light of the crisis in caregiving for older adults. We propose a combined institutional and life-course theoretical approach, suggesting seven ways of organising scholarly enquiry to promote understanding of the changing nature of family care in the 21st century, inform policymakers' efforts at supporting family caregivers and improve caregivers' and care recipients' quality of life.

Thu, 05/23/2019 - 12:56

Struggles for recognition and redistribution: family carers and domestic workers in Spanish eldercare

Theories of social justice have identified the revaluation of caregiving work as a global challenge. Still, struggles for recognition are shaped by the specific cultural and institutional contexts in which they emerge. This article explores struggles for the recognition of caregiving work in Spanish eldercare, focusing on advocacy for family carers and for domestic workers.

Fri, 05/03/2019 - 17:01