HomeResearchProjectsSendian Programm

Sendian Programm

Proyectos

 Principal investigator:
Nerea Galdona
 Team:
Iraia Aguirregabiria, Mertxe Sanchez, Carlota Arroyo & Itziar Gurrutxaga

Family care for people in situations of dependency is a major social challenge and a problem that is on the rise, as it generates a significant and progressive increase of the responsibility of the family to provide support and assistance, day after day, for a typically very long period, to a relative in situation of frailty, with no precedent in the history of our country (life expectancy, declining birth rates, ageing population) of this new condition. This increasingly imposes on the life of the main caregivers and the rest of the family, resulting in a physical and psychological impact on their own lives.

In most families, it is a single person who assumes most of the responsibility for care: the main caregiver. Most are women and, although men are increasingly involved in the care of the elderly, they are generally assistants to the main caregivers. Eight out of ten people who are caring for a family member are wives, daughters and daughter-in-laws, carrying out their gender role.

The tasks and activities of caregivers are many and require time and energy. They are not always comfortable or pleasant, and as it is generally unexpected, the caregiver is not always prepared in advance for the care or to address the diversity of situations involved in the care and that makes every care experience be unique and different from the others for various reasons: personal, relationship, previous relationship of the caregiver with the care recipient, type and degree of dependence and even the reason for receiving care (altruism, reciprocity, gratitude and esteem, feelings of guilt, censures, social approval, interest).

In this sense, the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, through the Sendian Programme, encourages reciprocity in informal care relations, with special attention given to supporting the wellbeing and demands of family caregivers and to promoting a more equal distribution of care within households. It is essential to specifically cater to family caregivers, those who are responsible for the care of people in situations of dependency. The Matia Institute has extensive experience in the management of this project, in terms of training programs, support groups and individual psychological support, because since 2007 it has been managing these programmes, in coordination with the different municipalities and the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa.

Funded by: Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa

 

Objectives

The implementation of programs to support family caregivers of people in situations of dependency in the historical territory of Gipuzkoa, from a model that promotes women's empowerment and responsibility of women and men in care.

Results

The scope of the individual psychological support sessions is mainly focused on the psychological, emotional and social health of the carers. It should be noted that the contents of these sessions usually vary substantially, so that they are adapted to the specific needs of each carer. The following table shows the number of cases attended, year after year.

On the other hand, support groups are another very important resource for carers as they work on the consequences of the caregiving tasks themselves. The following table shows the municipalities in which support groups are currently being run:

Municipality

Frequency

Azkoitia

2 sessions per month

Azpeitia

2 sessions per month

Beasain

2 sessions per month

Bergara

1 session per month

Donostia (Grupo I)

2 sessions per month

Donostia (Grupo II)

2 sessions per month

Donostia (Grupo III)

2 sessions per month

Eibar

2 sessions per month

Elgoibar

2 sessions per month

Irún

2 sessions per month

Lezo

1 session per month

Orio

1 session per month

Renteria

2 sessions per month

Tolosa

2 sessions per month

Zarautz

2 sessions per month

Zumaia

2 sessions per month