Caregiver Policy Lens: A Comprehensive Resource Guide

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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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).

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

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

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

12. 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

13. 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.

14. Benefits of using the CGPL • Consistent approach to policy development and redevelopment, and critique, that facilitates: • an interdisciplinary, inter-jurisdictional and cross-sectoralapproach • 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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.

18. 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

19. 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.

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. Pilot Resources • Website: caregivertoolkit.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

24. 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

25. Contact Information Dr. Penny MacCourt pennymaccourt@shaw.ca 1.250.756.2529 Marian Krawczyk mkrawczy@sfu.ca 1.250.400.2444