CO-AGE project at the Centre for Co-operative Studies, CUBS and ISS21

Veronica Barrett, RHS Homecare Co-operatives, Roscommon. Aoife Smith, Great Care Co-op, Dublin. Emma Back, Equal Care Co-op, UK. Dr Carol Power, Centre for Co-operative Studies, CUBS and ISS21

Thursday, 23rd June 2022, 15:00-17:00

Registration via Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-potential-of-the-co-operative-care-model-to-support-older-people-to-age-tickets-366846597047

Meeting the care needs of an ageing population presents a significant challenge for Irish society. This research explores the potential to develop co-operatives to provide care services and support independent living and healthy ageing in the community. Care co-operatives are organisations that are owned and governed by service users (those receiving care and/or their families/communities) and/or professional carers. They offer an opportunity for older people and their families, and care workers, to work as partners to shape the design and delivery of care services. The co-operative model may help to improve the experience of care recipients and their families/ supporters by giving them a greater say in how care services are delivered. There is also evidence that professional care workers working in a co-operative may enjoy better pay and conditions, helping to improve recruitment and retention in the sector. This seminar will provide an overview of care co-operatives and insights from those who have pioneered co-operative homecare in Ireland and the UK.