Partners in Health Care, Pillars of Hope:Why engaging family caregivers is essential in quality improvement

Breakout session F3

Barb MacLeanExecutive Directorexdir@fcns.cawww.familycaregiversnetwork.org

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Disclosure I work for the Family Caregivers’ Network Society

of BC. We receive funding from the BC Ministry of Health, Patients as Partners Initiative.

I am biased toward patient and family centered care.

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3 Themes:1. Incredible yet invisible: the family caregiver role 2. Making the shift to patient and family centered

care3. How can we ACT to:

include family/friends as partners in care engage in health planning and policy refer them for support & education

family caregivers

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Family Caregivers’ Network of BC

Dedicated to family caregiver support, education and representation in health system improvement

for 25 years.

family caregivers

A Family Caregiver is….…anyone who provides care and support for an adult family

member or friend who is in poor health, frail, elderly or disabled.

The care recipient can live either in their own home, with the family caregiver or in a care facility.

1,000,000One in 3.6

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80%80%

family caregivers

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70%family caregivers

10 family caregivers

$25-26 billion

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Why are we caring?

Impact of Caregiving on Health Depression and anxiety

High levels of stress

Chronic health conditions twice the rate of general population

Hypertension

Compromised immune system

Back injuries

Insomnia

And then there’s the financial impact $$$

14 family caregivers

Impact of Caregiving on Health Depression and anxiety

High levels of stress

Chronic health conditions twice the rate of general population

Hypertension

Compromised immune system

Back injuries

Insomnia

And then there’s the financial impact $$$

15 family caregivers

X

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4 years

I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m fine.

Crisis

Accept help

family caregivers

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Let’s tangle

family caregivers

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Why are caregivers excluded? privacy legislation - professionals cautious about

sharing with families Stigma or assumption that they will interfere or be

trouble. Lack of understanding Indifference Staff Work load – too busy No simple established communication process

family caregivers

Source: Wendy Sutton

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Individuals - us 50% resistant to change 8% innovators

Family caregivers

The Global Challenge......

[Jennings,Miller,Materna1997] after Tom Ferguson -Healthcare Forum Journal Jan/Feb 1995 pp28-33

System is shifting to the least expensive and most available

resources

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How do we shift to patient and family centered care?

family caregivers

23 Family caregivers

Setting Prioritiesfor the B.C. Health System PRIORITY1: Provide patient-centred care

Shift the culture of health care from being disease-centred and provider- focused to being patient-centred.

Feb. 2014

and family

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BC Ministry of Health Patients as Partners

Patients and family caregivers are partners in health care when they are supported and encouraged to participate:

in their own health care in decision making about that care at the level they choose in quality improvement and health care redesign

family caregivers

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Patient, Family, Public EngagementMinistry of Health Patients as Partners

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Engagement Examples:

Family Caregiver Week May 4-10

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Simple, free and easy: MAKE A REFERRAL

BC Family Caregiver ProgramCaregiver Support Line

1-877-520-3267

Education & Resource Center:www.familycaregiversnetwork.org

family caregivers

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family caregivers

Inventory of resources in BC – living document

31family caregivers

32 family caregivers

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I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.

Leonardo da Vinci

Family caregivers

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What will YOU DO? include = part of the care team Inquire, “How are you?” refer for support invite to the planning table ??

Family caregivers

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Caregiver Support Line:

1-877-520-3267

Education & Resource Center:

www.familycaregiversnetwork.org

family caregivers