NEWS & EVENTS
Facilitating Knowledge Translation and Collaboration
Actions for Carer Friendly Workplaces
On December 3, 2020 IACO members attended a virtual Knowledge Sharing Meeting to discuss strategies and actions to support Carer Friendly Workplaces. Presentations featured the challenges of COVID and the workplace, with presentations by:
- Sari Tervonen & Miika Kataja, Carers Finland
- Emily Holzhausen & Katherine Wilson, Carers UK
- Allison Williams, McMaster University, Canada
- Laurie Hilsgen, Carers New Zealand
Setting Strategic Priorities
IAC Members Meeting in Paris, France
IACO members gathered in Paris France on March 20 & 21, 2019 at the General Assembly meeting to share progress on actions around the globe to support awareness and recognition of carers. Over the 2-day event, members and invited guests continued to dialogue on the impact of caring and sharing of innovative practices around the world. Through our commitment to collaborative engagement, IACO continued to build synergies and identify opportunities towards global commitment to actions for carers.
Members were welcomed by Nadine Henningsen, Board Chair, IACO / CEO, Canadian Home Care Association & Carers Canada and Florence Leduc, Présidente, Association Française des Aidants. The two leaders set the tone of the meeting and challenged participants to think outside the box and explore alignment within and among countries. Key strategic initiatives were shared throughout the event:
- Embracing Cares, a global initiative to build awareness and recognition of carers, was presented by Scott Williams, Vice President, Global Patient Advocacy & Meagan Bates Perry, Associate Director of Patient Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships, Global Healthcare Government & Public Affairs, EMD Serono.
- Progress on the IACO Innovative Carer Practices was shared by Catherine Suridjan, Director of Policy & Knowledge Translation, Carers Canada & Liam O’Sullivan, Executive Director, Care Alliance Ireland
- A stimulating discussion on the impact of caring and the potential synergies of the carers movement with the patient community was led by David Palacios, M.D., Head of Patient Advocacy & Annekatrin Krause, Global Patient Engagement Manager, Novartis Pharma, AG
- The innovative study on Carers of Individuals with Heart Failure and the carer-patient dyad was presented by Emily Holzhausen, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Carers UK
Mobilizing Global Actions for Carers
IACO Members Meeting in London, England
The members of the International Alliance of Carer Organizations (IACO) met to share progress on the carer agenda and set a new strategic direction for the next five years. Hosted in London, England, by Carers UK, the meeting brought together representatives from fifteen IACO member countries, associate members and partners to discuss how the organization can build on the successes achieved thus far and create a global carer movement.
“Caring is one of the most important social and economic policy issues worldwide. The global alliance enables countries to participate in critical dialogue and exchange ideas to address the unmet needs of carers around the world,” said Ara Cresswell, CEO Carers Australia and Vice Chair IACO Governing Board. Member countries discussed and agreed on the following priorities for the new iteration of the strategic plan:
- Build a global awareness and recognition of who carers are and what they do.
- Articulate the impact of caring on the carers, the patient, the health and social care systems and the economy at large.
- Create a global strategy and committee to action through the identification, spreading and scaling of innovative carer policies and programs.
Recognizing the importance of evidence-based decision-making, Dr. Sue Yeandle, Principal investigator, The Sustainable Care Research Programme, provided a comprehensive overview of this international project examining how to resource and deliver social care as a critical issue facing society today. Willemijn Looman, post-doctoral researcher from the Erasmus University Rotterdam, Institute for Health Policy and Management in the Netherlands shared early findings on the importance of carers in integrated chronic care models in the SELFIE Project.
“Through IACO’s support of innovative research, we can share data findings that reinforce the experiences and stories of carers around the world”, stated Liam O’Sullivan, Executive Director of Care Alliance Ireland and Treasurer/Secretary IACO Governing Board. The meeting set the foundation for a coordinated and collaborative action plan for carers.
“This meeting has advanced our discussions around challenges, achievements and strategies in championing the well-being of carers on a global scale. The collective strength of IACO will ensure our success in shaping a bright future for carers around the world,” said Nadine Henningsen, President Carers Canada, Chair IACO Governing Board.
IACO attends 6th International Carers Conference
Care and Caring: Future proofing the new demographics. September 3-6, 2015, Gothenburg, Sweden
The Carers Conference helped to raise awareness of carers issues on a global level. Conference materials, including: films, seminars, interviews and photos, are available on the Nka website at: www.anhoriga.se/english. Materials will be continuously updated, so please visit the site regularly.
Advance Carers Issues Across the World
IACO Members Meeting in Gothenburg, Sweden
IACO hosted its third annual meeting of more than 14 countries in Gothenburg, Sweden immediately prior to the 6th International Carers Conference where our work was being showcased. The meeting of the International Alliance of Carer Organizations (IACO), focused on strategies to safeguard the health and well‐being of carers, build supportive workplace environments, and increase recognition of carer needs. The member countries in IACO shared issues, gaps and challenges facing carers within their borders. Health issues, including heart failure and supporting children with special needs, were also on the agenda.
Currently, the coalition represents national carer groups in the Australia, Canada, Finland, India and Nepal, Ireland, Israel, New Zealand, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States. Representatives from Taiwan, Japan, Germany, and France were invited to attend.
Crafting a Foundation for Change
IACO Members Meeting in Helsinki, Finland
IACO’s second annual meeting, preceded the Eurocarers conference. Representatives from Sweden, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Finland, Australia, and the United States coalesced to share best practices for caring and caregiving in their respective countries. The meeting was made possible through generous funding from BUPA Australia, Right at Home International, and Novartis.
A Catalyst for Global Collaboration
IACO Members Meeting in Dublin, Ireland
The 1st annual IACO meeting included presentations on family carers in attendee countries as well as discussions on future projects for IACO. Member countries from the United States, Canada, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand took part in the discussion. Speakers included a keynote from Saul Becker, the Head of School and Professor of Social Policy and Social Work at the University of Nottingham. His presentation on the International Perspectives on Younger Carers provided great insight to the challenges of young caregivers.
