RESIL.ience FOR informal CARE.givers

In Europe, informal caregiving contributes to more than three quarters of all long-term care provided, around 80%, (Petrini et al., 2019) and according to Eurocarers (2017) statistics, informal carers number more than 100 million. Informal caregiving is argued to have all the characteristics of a chronic stress experience; it creates physical and psychological strain over extended periods of time (Vitaliano et al., 2003). The Covid-19 pandemic situation has shown how essential their contribution is for the sustainability and resilience of European long-term care systems (European Commission, 2021). About two-thirds of these care for a parent or spouse, but caregiving patterns vary across age groups (OECD, 2019). All these data highlighted how much it was necessary to work on the psycho-physical health of informal carers. The Resil4Care project aimed to improve the coping skills of informal carers and empowering them in their role using social media platforms capable of creating specific online support groups to help developing their resilience in a smart and remote way with online support groups set up through Facebook in each pilot site: Treviso (Italy), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Patras (Greece) and Valencia (Spain).

With the implementation of the Resil4Care project the partners aimed: • To improve the coping skills of informal carers and empowering their resilience with the use of online support groups created in a social network (e.g. Facebook) in each pilot site • To create a digital training manual for futures group of facilitators of the Resil4Care model together with other innovative materials and tools for different groups of informal carers (young carers, elderly carers, working carers, male and female carers, carers of people with dementia and other diseases, etc.) the Resil4Care manual was created also to be used by the stakeholders reached during the project’s dissemination activities in each partner country and at EU level dealing with informal carers • To bridge the digital divide, especially for older carers and those reluctant to use social media platforms.

Since the launch on 1 February 2022, ISRAA as coordinator has prepared the agreement between the institution and INDIRE and subsequently a bilateral partnership agreement between ISRAA and each project partner. These formalisations took place in May 2022. At the operational level, online coordination meetings were held in January at LP to prepare for the launch of the project with an online KOM in February 2022. After the establishment of the project coordination group, the planned activities were launched, leading to the following results: PR1: From M1 to M6 FRODIZO, who oversaw the PR1 activities, worked on the methodological plan to proceed with the following activities: • A1 – Empirical research for a detailed analysis and identification the pedagogical framework for the RESIL4CARE model • A2 - Each Project partner delivered a survey using a questionnaire prepared by FRODIZO. The questionnaire measured the main variables influencing psychosocial resilience. To stipulate the needs of caregivers, the project partners developed and addressed the present questionnaire to 20 people each summoning up a total of 84 people. • A3 - The result of the A1 and A2 was the production of a report which collects all the selected and approved data and defines the pedagogical elements to build the RESIL4CARE training course • A4 – the report was in English and translated in Greek, Slovenian, Italian and Spanish. PR2: from M7 to M13 IAT worked on: • A1 - Materials for the theoretical part of the training • A2 - Materials for the practical training that has been implemented in the LTTA held in Ljubljana (SI) in October 2022. PR2 provided the skills to the "core groups" to create and manage, in full compliance with GDPR 679/2016, the participatory process of local involvement of informal carers and the communication dynamics therein. Three months after that moment, the following online groups currently in place have been initiated: Treviso, link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/teniamocipermanotreviso Valencia, link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ayudaraquiencuida Patras, link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/frodizoosousfrodizoun Ljubljana, link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/druzinskioskrbovalci Group released, on average, 2 posts per week during all the duration of the project and the project partners belonging to the core group met in online calls before each project monthly meeting. Till the end of the project IAT monitored the work on: • A3 – Creation of the online content creation together with I4D and • A4 – Creation of the training course manual • A5 - Translation of the manual. PR3: From M6 to M21 I4D, produced the MOOCS to support group participants and to define the RESIL4CARE model exploitation for PR5 scope in the following way: • A1- ICT tools design • A2 ICT tools development, in close collaboration with the PR2 material developed by IAT • A3 – ICT tools contextual adaptation and translation, in this activities All partners supported I4D in the ICT tools with video tutorials and MOOC, and the learning material local adaptation into their own national languages and contexts. PR4: from M5 to M23 IVASS deploy and evaluate the online support of the Resil4Care model for informal carers resulting in a training course evaluation tool to be adopted by the stakeholders involved by each partner. The work of IVASS was structured as follows: • A1 – Development of the first prototype of the assessment methodology to evaluate the level of involvement, actual learning needs of carers, increased resilience and perceived usefulness of online support groups • A2 - Developing of the final questionnaires • A3 – During the Pilot-test implementation and training described above (PR2 activity) the pilots carried out for the 12 months practical period by IAT, FRODIZO, ISRAA and IVASS, and after that assessed the impact on informal carers, evaluated the training course and improved the final Resil4Care training methodology and materials • A4 - Interview analysis collection from the evaluation questionnaires and the case-study templates was carried out with the final interviews of 4 professionals to confirm or improve the conclusions • A5- A evaluation handbook was produced with the collaboration of all the partners and translated into each partner language. PR5: from M11 to M22 LAS NAVES oversaw this result to create the guidelines for Resil4Care adoption and implementation in organizations through the following steps: • A1 – a literature review performed by each partner • A2 - a participative research in which LAS NAVES, IVASS, ISRAA, IAT and FRODIZO carried out focus groups attended by experts in the project's fields and professionals • A3 - Collection and analysis of the information • A4 - Design of the methodologies and confirmation of conclusions and recommendations • A5 - Translation of the Resil4Care model guidelines in each partner language.

Resil4Care project main outcomes has been: • The creation of 4 online support groups on Facebook in 4 different countries: Greece, Italy, Slovenia and Spain with more than 150 members per group. • The creation of an extensive educational curriculum in 5 different languages (English, Greek, Italian, Slovenian and Spanish) usable free of charge thanks to a digital learning platform. To achieve these main results, the partners produced over the two-year project period a series of outputs: PR1: The main output of PR1, led by FRODIZO, were the drafting of a report based on an empirical investigation of the skills that lead to resilience attitude by considering real-life context. This method facilitated the production of the training materials (PR2). To detect the real needs of the project’s direct target group in this initial phase the partners followed a plan that contained three consecutive steps: A preparatory analysis. An extensive review of the relevant literature. A qualitative and quantitative survey to reflect the approach and attitudes of the informal carers themselves. PR2: The main outputs of PR2, led by IAT, were the development of the 4 Facebook support groups in Greece, Italy, Slovenia and Spain and the production of training course manual and the online learning material about how to set up and run a Facebook group to support informal carers. The learning, teaching, and training activity (LTTA) was carried out in Ljubljana in October 2022 to start developing the PR2 main results which were defined as follows: Resil4Care core group: each pilot site was created a small group made from members with diverse knowledge and experience in the field of care. The purpose of the core group is to jointly lead and moderate a larger online support group and to jointly create new content for informal carers. Worksheets: Resil4Care worksheets created by IAT enable clear structure of work, provide interesting new topics for debate, encourage to make the core group in each pilot site more connected and overall serve as a good starting point for posts in Facebook support group. Guidelines and instructions for the creation of Facebook support groups. The groups provided up-to-date information and material connected to the different aspects of the caregiving role. In the groups informal carers shared experiences with others, gave support, asked questions about caregiving or gained some additional knowledge that they needed. PR3: The main outputs of PR3, led by Interactive 4D, were the development of the digital learning platform. Initially Interactive 4D will develop the project website, and after the LLTA activity started to draft the structure of the Resil4Care platform for the implementation of the MOOC that was structured as follow: Facebook for family carers: • What is Facebook • Create a Facebook account • Connect with friends on Facebook • Post on Facebook • React to the post • Joint a Facebook group. Facebook for support group managers: • Create a Facebook group • Invite people into the group • Post in a Facebook group • Manage a Facebook support group. Resilience for family carers: • About resilience • Why joining a support group • Self- care • Mindfulness. Privacy and security for all: • Change your password • Protect yourself • How to detect scams • Blocking contacts • Why is Facebook free. PR4: The main outputs of PR4, led by IVASS, were the tool for the evaluation of the Resil4Care model. To be able to reach these objectives, within this PR4, the partnership has deployed a mixed method evaluation research: Designing a specific evaluation method and tools. Carrying out 5 evaluation activities: - Evaluation of the C1 training activity be learners - 1 pass (self-administered) of the resilience. - 20 experts took part in the process of tuning up the methodology and producing the. - 1 focus-group formed by the project partners responsible of the national Facebook groups. - 1 case study per country: Slovenia, Italy, Greece and Spain. Obtaining conclusions to help to create the project educational approach. PR5: The main outputs of PR5, led by LAS NAVES, were the Guidelines for RESIL4CARE Adoption and Implementation in Organizations. Focus groups we conducted in four of the project's partner countries: Greece, Italy, Slovenia and Spain with the participation of 55 experts in the field, from different types of organizations. Now, there is enough information to elaborate a list with some recommendations so that organizations can successfully implement the Resil4Care model. Seizing this opportunity, the organization should disseminate among the informal carers the future creation of Facebook support group.