The Caring for Carers of People with Dementia Project links isolated carers of older people with dementia to other carers living in regional and rural Australia. The free chat-based group program allows carers to chat with other carers in similar circumstances. Carers join a weekly group video conference meeting from their home and connect with other carers in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Carers have the opportunity to share information, experience and skills. The program is available to primary carers of a person with dementia.
The learning and chat meetings are led by a facilitator and run for six weeks. Group programs are running now and will be offered through to June 2019. Carers need to be connected to the internet. The program is free, apart from charges from the internet service provider for data usage in the video conference sessions. Carers are encouraged to use their own desktop computer, laptop, or tablet; the project can loan a tablet for the sessions, if needed. Carers do not need to stop any other programs or services that they are involved in. Carers will be offered $50 voucher as a thank you at completion of their involvement the project. They will also go into the draw to win one of five tablets.
The Caring for Carers program is being offered by Central Queensland University’s Caring for Carers of People with Dementia Project which has received Australian Government Dementia and Aged Care Services funding. The project will gather information about the response of isolated rural carers of older people with dementia to a videoconference based, outreach, information and peer support program. A summary of the information gathered from the project will be available for participants when the project is finished.
The project team is keen to hear from carers who would like to participate. To register or find out more, contact the project manager by email carers@cqu.edu.au or phone 0437 579 695; or the principal investigator Professor Lynne Parkinson 0410 574 005.
Download the flyer for more information about joining the support group.