This article is from page 4 of the 2008-02-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
CARERS from Clare will finally get an opportunity to outline their re- quirements to the most senior person in the Health Service Executive.
The Chief Executive Officer of the HSE, Professor Brendan Drumm, will address the Caring for Carers Ireland 17th Annual Respite Break and Conference this March in the Clare Inn.
Professor Drumm, who has reiter- ated his commitment to community care and supporting people in the home since he was appointed CEO,
will hear the realities facing the country’s 161,000 carers.
The outcome of this year’s confer- ence, entitled “The Future of Long term Care in the Community: How to meet the needs of the Family Carer”, will be significant in the composi- tion of the National Carers’ Strategy 2008 to 2016.
Also addressing the gathering will be Laverne McGuiness, the HSE’s National Director for Primary Com- munity and Continuing Care, Marian Harkin MEP, Brigid Barron, Founder President, Eurocarers; Helen Kelly, Chairperson of Caring for Carers,
Clare and Mary McMahon, the chief executive of Caring for Carers, Ire- land.
Caring for Carers was originally formed in Clare. It has since expand- ed to an all Ireland and European body, giving a voice to those often to busy and stressed to speak up for themselves.
Attendance at the conference on March 7 to 9 will include more than 500 Family Carers drawn from Car- ing for Carers Ireland national net- work of 90 Carers Groups through- out Ireland.
“Family Carers experience high
levels of stress and financial difficul- ties. Many express fears around their abilities to continue to provide care,” a spokesperson for the organisation said.
This conference will provide an opportunity for carers to report their need for services and support to sus- tain caring in the home into the fu- ture. The outcomes will be reported to the interdepartmental working eroup, which is tasked to develop a National Strategy for Family Carers aligned with *““Towards 2016”, which will set out the Government’s vision in relation to all family carers.