Evaluation of the consumer - directed care initiative - Final Report
7.4 Benefits for care recipients
- Executive summary
- Glossary
1 Introduction- 2 The consumer-directed care initiative
- 3 Evaluation of the consumer-directed care initiative
- 4 Profile of participants and the supports they accessed
- 5 Implementation and operation of the initiative
- 6 Impact of the initiative for CDC participants and their carers
7 Impact of the initiative for CDRC participants and the people they care for- 8 Impact on providers and the broader service system
- 9 Cost assessment and cost-effectiveness of the initiative
- 10 Key findings
- 11 Lessons learnt and strategies for consideration
- Appendices
- References
A number of CDRC participants identified that their relationship with the person they cared for had improved since receiving a CDRC package. Having the package had allowed them to focus more on themselves, and participants spoke of feeling less stressed, less burdened, and more satisfied with life – which impacted on their interaction with the person they cared for. Some carers also identified that prior to receiving the package, they had come to ‘resent’ their caring role (and in some cases felt guilty about feeling this resentment) which was having a negative impact on the person they cared for, and having the package allowed them to feel less resentful and more recognised and valued in their caring role.
“I use my package to take regular breaks, to go out and do my own thing. I have more energy for my mother now, and can give her a bit of extra TLC. I’m much more patient with her too”.
CDRC participant caring for her mother who had dementia
There were also more direct benefits for the people CDRC participants were caring for. The increased choice and flexibility of packages allowed participants to put in place supports which were more acceptable for the person they cared for. A common example was the ability to use the package for regular in-home support provided by a support worker who the care recipient liked and got along well with. In many cases, this was used as an alternative to residential respite (which may have been the only form of respite they had accessed previously), which many participants were averse to because it was stressful, problematic and sometimes traumatic for the person they cared for.
Many participants used the package for out-of-home support and activities for the person they cared for, such as day centres and men’s sheds. Again, participants chose activities that the person they cared for liked and enjoyed and which provided them with some social contact, as well as providing a break for the carer. Participants highlighted that prior to receiving the package they were not able to access these supports, or were simply unaware that they existed.