The University of Auckland and an organisation representing caregivers is organising an online survey to find out about the needs of “informal” caregivers.
These are friends and family members of the person receiving care. They often have to give up their jobs to care for their relative and suffer in other ways as a consequence. Less than three percent of caregivers in New Zealand are able to keep their paid jobs. Caregivers suffer financially and experience health issues, especially stress, depression and anxiety. Caregivers play a vital role in helping people with disabilities or illness to remain living at home with full lives.
If you are an adult informal caregiver (unpaid family or friend) of someone with an illness, or disability, or you have been a caregiver in the past, the researchers want to hear from you. The University of Auckland with the support of Carers NZ is hoping to recruit up to 2000 caregivers. Findings from this very important study will be used to provide information on what works well to support caregivers, in order to make improvements.
The survey will help provide a comprehensive picture of how caregivers are coping. Although the New Zealand Government announced in the May budget that 1600 caregivers will receive more money for working as caregivers, this is only 0. 04 percent of the total number of caregivers in New Zealand.
Volunteers in the study will be asked to complete an online survey, which will take approximately 25 minutes to complete. The survey is anonymous and can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7L3N9Q2.
For further information contact Tracey-Lee Dalton via email tracey.lee.dalton@gmail.com or mobile 021 116 2950.
