ICCWA AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN INJURY PREVENTION RESEARCH
On Friday 2 November 2007 the Injury Control Council of WA presented the Independent Living Centre with the Award for Excellence in Injury Prevention Research for the Family Carers and the Physical Impact in Caring – Injury and Prevention research project.
This project was funded in 2006 by the Office for Seniors Interests and Volunteering (now Office for Seniors Interests and Carers) to provide evidence based data and trial a model of training aimed at reducing the level of injury to family carers.
Findings included:
• 43% of the carers surveyed said they had been physically hurt or injured as a result of providing care;
• 65% reported that they had a health condition since becoming a carer; and
• in general, carers reported a higher level of orthopaedic or spinal problems, cardiovascular problems and emotional or mental problems now than before becoming a carer.
These statistics are mirrored in the workforce, where the high rate of back injuries to workers (predominantly female) employed in the health and community care sector has lead to most services employing “no lift” policies.
After trialling an in-home method of training in safer manual handling practices
• 64% of the carers had noticed an improvement in their own physical condition;
• 80% had made other changes as a result of the training; and
• 88% were ‘very satisfied’ with the training, 12% were fairly satisfied.
Recommendations were:
1. That policy makers, GP’s and community care service providers acknowledge in practical ways that they have a role in preventing and minimising injury to family carers.
2. That existing health programs should include initiatives that focus on injury prevention for carers and encourage active referrals from GP’s and other health professionals.
3. That the design and delivery of training in injury prevention to family carers be by means and in formats that can accommodate the diversity and changing nature of their caring situations.
4. That in the first instance carers at highest risk of injury should be targeted to receive training and assistance.
5. That in-home models of training delivery should be prioritised through both program design and funding.
The Independent Living Centre deserves to be recognised for developing and carrying out this important research project which not only substantiates the current rate of injury to family carers and calls for a preventive approach through the testing of a training model, but which provides the key success features in educating and training family carers in safer manual handling practices.
The full Family Carers and the Physical Impact in Caring – Injury and Prevention report can be found at www.ilc.com.au