Covid-19 has significantly increased the burden on family carers around the world as countries have rationalised their health and social care programmes, to maximise and divert resources toward those living and dying with Covid-19 and those with the highest levels of acute non Covid-19 need. Home care packages have been suspended or reduced and traditional respite services and supports for family carers (such as carers groups and day services for the cared for person) have ceased in line with social distancing and/or cocooning requirements. Furthermore, people have found themselves assuming the role of the family carer, sometimes for the very first time as a result of Covid-19. Family carers may require support that can no longer be accessed in a traditional one-to-one or group face-to-face format previously relied upon by both the population and the agencies providing supports to family carers. As a result, family carer support agencies across the world are engaging in the development of rapid innovation to support family carers during this global pandemic. The aim of this study is to (1) examine, compare and share models of family carer support developed and delivered in response to Covid-19 across Europe and (2) to evaluate the impact of three Irish models of family carer support developed in response to the pandemic specifically (a) online group-based peer-support and 1-1 counselling for family carers; (b) an emergency support plan; and (c) an intensive model of family carer needs assessment, action planning and outcome measurement using the Carers Outcome StarTM. The findings will provide policy makers and family carer support agencies around the world with a European compendium of models and approaches utilised during the pandemic and specific evidence regarding the impact and outcome of interventions developed by a national charity supporting Ireland’s 355,000+ family carers.
