Research to explore delivery of supports to family carers across Europe and in Ireland during pandemic

Funding announced for 39 COVID-19 research and innovation projects

Many family carers are under pressure during the coronavirus pandemic and need support. Around the world, agencies like Family Carers Ireland are working to provide this support.

A new research project funded by the Health Research Board and the Irish Research Council will compare how this support is being delivered across Europe and will evaluate models developed to provide support in Ireland to family carers during COVID-19. The findings will help policymakers in Ireland and Europe to effectively provide family carers with the support they need. 

This is one of 39 COVID-19 research and innovation projects to benefit from a €10.5m investment announced today. The research projects are part of a coordinated COVID-19 Rapid Response Research, Development and Innovation programme supported by Science Foundation Ireland, in partnership with the Department for the Economy and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, and the Irish Research Council and Health Research Board.

Leading the research into the delivery of supports to family carers are Professor D William Molloy, University College Cork, and Dr Kathleen McLoughlin, Head of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, Family Carers Ireland.

Dr McLoughlin said: 

“This is such an important research project. There are 500,000+ family carers in Ireland and the pandemic has made what was a difficult situation for them even worse. We look forward to learning more about European models and evaluating the supports Family Carers Ireland has developed. These supports include online counselling, an emergency scheme for family carers and intensive wellbeing reviews. We’re so pleased that this vital research funding has been awarded to UCC, and thanks to Professor Molloy for his leadership in this field.” 

Lead researchers:

Professor D William Molloy, University College Cork

Dr Kathleen McLoughlin, Family Carers Ireland

Other team members include:

Dr Tony Foley, Department of General Practice, UCC;

Professor Sinead McGilloway, Department of Psychology, Maynooth University;

Professor Elizabeth Hanson, Department of Health & Caring Sciences, Linneaus University.

The study is being conducted in collaboration with Eurocarers and Family Carers Ireland.

For more information on the projects to receive funding, please see: https://www.hrb.ie/news/covid-19-coronavirus/