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How can we support family carers during COVID-19?
New research will examine and compare how support is delivered to family carers across Europe and in Ireland during the pandemic, with the aim of informing practical policymaking.
Family carers – people who care for one or more members of their family, friends or neighbours – need support during the global pandemic. Around the world, agencies like Family Carers Ireland are working to provide this support. A new research project funded by the Health Research Board and the Irish Research Council will compare how this support is being delivered across Europe and will evaluate models developed to provide support in Ireland to family carers during the pandemic. The findings will help policymakers in Ireland and Europe more broadly to ensure family carers get the help they need.
What is the issue?
Many family carers are under pressure during the pandemic and need support.
What will the research project do?
The research will look at how family carer support is being delivered across Europe, and it will assess three models or approaches that have been designed to deliver support to family carers in Ireland during COVID-19.
What will the impact be?
By bringing together information about family carer support, and by evaluating models to deliver it in the pandemic, the project will help policymakers in Ireland and Europe to effectively provide family carers with the support they need.
Leading the research are Professor D William Molloy, University College Cork, and Dr Kathleen McLoughlin, Head of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, Family Carers Ireland. Dr McLoughlin comments:
“This is such an important research project. There are 355,000 family carers in Ireland and the pandemic has made what was a difficult situation for them even worse. We look forward to learning more about European models and evaluating the supports Family Carers Ireland has developed. These supports include online counselling, an emergency scheme for family carers and intensive wellbeing reviews. We’re so pleased that this vital research funding has been awarded to UCC, and thanks to Professor Molloy for his leadership in this field.”
Lead Researchers:
- Professor D William Molloy, University College Cork
- Dr Kathleen McLoughlin, Family Carers Ireland
Other team members:
- Dr Tony Foley, Department of General Practice, UCC
- Professor Sinead McGilloway, Department of Psychology, Maynooth University
- Professor Elizabeth Hanson, Department of Health & Caring Sciences, Linneaus University
The study is conducted in collaboration with Eurocarers and Family Carers Ireland.