The Carers Cafe, Tallaght, Dublin

Description

The Carers Café is a community-based, Social Work-led initiative designed to support family members who provide care to adults aged 60 and over. It was established in response to the increasing number of carers experiencing isolation, emotional stress and health challenges related to their caregiving role. Developed by Social Workers from both community and acute older persons services (HSE Dublin South West ICPOP and Tallaght University Hospital), the Carers Café offers a space where carers can come together in a relaxed, non-clinical environment to connect, share experiences and receive support.

Held monthly at Rua Red South Dublin Arts Centre, the Café provides an informal yet structured setting where carers can take time for themselves while also gaining access to valuable information and resources. Sessions are free to attend and include refreshments, opportunities for social interaction and facilitated discussions or activities. Each month a guest speaker or facilitator with expertise relevant to carers is invited to lead a session. These have included music therapists, artists, occupational therapists and local librarians, providing both therapeutic engagement and practical knowledge.

The Carers Café was co-designed with carers themselves, using a co-production model that values lived experience. It was originally piloted in a local parish centre and later relocated to a more accessible venue following feedback from participants. This feedback also led to the introduction of topic-specific sessions, such as one on the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015, facilitated by a TUH Social Work Team Leader. Carers also expressed a desire for ongoing connection between sessions, leading to the creation of a WhatsApp group, which allows participants to stay in touch, share peer support and receive updates about local events or services from the Social Work facilitators.

The initiative has proven successful in reducing social isolation, improving overall wellbeing and helping carers to build peer networks and friendships. It promotes awareness of the essential role that carers play in the lives of older people while also ensuring their own needs are acknowledged and supported. Importantly, the Carers Café recognises that carers may not be able to attend every month due to the demands of their role, and it maintains a flexible, inclusive approach that encourages attendance when possible.

In 2023, the Carers Café was awarded €3,000 through the HSE Spark Innovation Fund, which helped fund venue rental, refreshments, and guest facilitators. The initiative went on to win a national Irish Healthcare Centre Award for Best Healthcare Initiative in Older Persons Care (Public) and has since secured much-needed longer-term funding through a partnership with Comfort Keepers.

The Carers Café aligns with the national SláinteCare strategy by supporting the shift of care into communities and recognising the value of early intervention, prevention and empowerment. It provides a replicable model that can be adapted in other communities, especially as Ireland’s population ages and more families take on caregiving roles. The Social Workers and carers who co-developed the initiative continue to champion its growth, firmly believing in its long-term value in supporting carer wellbeing and enhancing community resilience.

Aim of Initiative

The aim of the Carers Café initiative is to provide a safe, supportive and inclusive space for family carers of older adults to connect with one another, access Social Work support and engage with resources that promote their emotional, social and practical wellbeing. Developed by Social Workers in response to increased referrals for ‘carer stress’, the initiative recognises the often-isolating nature of the caring role and seeks to reduce that isolation by fostering peer connection and community engagement.

By creating a non-clinical, welcoming environment, the Carers Café allows carers to take time for themselves in a way that feels accessible and respectful of their unique challenges. The initiative also aims to recognise and celebrate the vital, often unseen, contributions of carers in supporting older adults to live well at home.

Guest facilitators – such as music therapists, occupational therapists and community librarians – offer engaging sessions that provide both respite and practical information, tailored to the evolving needs of carers. A consistent monthly schedule and optional WhatsApp group support continuity, predictability and ongoing connection between participants.

The Carers Café reflects SláinteCare’s vision of shifting care into communities and empowering people through early intervention and support. It is rooted in co-production, developed collaboratively with carers and responsive to their feedback. The initiative also seeks to highlight the need for long-term, sustainable support for carers and to act as a replicable model that can be implemented in other communities across Ireland to support carer wellbeing.

Who is it aimed at

The Carers Café initiative is aimed at:

Family carers of adults aged 60 and over who are living in the community and providing regular, often unpaid, support to an older relative or loved one with physical, cognitive or mental health needs.

These carers may be:

• Experiencing social isolation, stress or burnout
• Struggling to access consistent support or information
• Seeking connection with others in similar roles
• Balancing multiple responsibilities and healthcare appointments
• In need of emotional, social or practical support

The initiative recognises the unique challenges faced by informal carers – often spouses, adult children or extended family members – who play a crucial role in helping older adults live at home with dignity and independence. It is particularly relevant for carers in the Tallaght and surrounding areas but its model is adaptable for use in other communities.

Ultimately, the initiative is for anyone providing care to an older adult who could benefit from peer support, access to resources and recognition of their role within a compassionate and inclusive setting.

3 Steps critical to success

1. 1. Co-Production with Carers
   From the outset, the Carers Café was developed in partnership with carers themselves using co-production principles. Carers were consulted about their needs, preferences and ideas, ensuring the initiative was shaped by their lived experiences. Their feedback informed the format, location, timing and content of the sessions. This collaborative approach ensured the Café was relevant, meaningful and responsive – contributing significantly to its sustained engagement and success.
2. 2. Choice of Venue and Structure
   A deliberate decision was made to host the Café in a non-clinical, accessible community space – Rua Red South Dublin Arts Centre in Tallaght – instead of a hospital or healthcare setting. This created a welcoming, relaxed environment that encouraged participation. The predictable, monthly schedule, combined with a flexible attendance model, made it easier for carers to engage when they could reducing pressure or guilt around attendance. This structure respected the unpredictable demands of caregiving.
3. 3. Community Partnerships and Innovation Funding
   Strong links were formed with local services (e.g., South Dublin County Council Library, community therapists, Comfort Keepers), which enriched the programme’s content and reach. In addition, securing €3,000 from HSE Spark Innovation funding enabled investment in venue hire, guest facilitators and refreshments. These practical supports helped establish the initiative and maintain its quality. Winning a national Irish Healthcare Centre Award further validated the model and led to sustained funding – ensuring longterm viability and impact.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. 1. Balancing Attendance with Carer Responsibilities
   Many carers have unpredictable and demanding schedules due to their caregiving duties. This made consistent attendance difficult especially when carers faced multiple appointments or emergencies. The initiative had to remain flexible and non-judgemental, encouraging carers to attend when they could without added pressure
2. 2. Securing Sustainable Funding
   Initially the Café relied on short-term funding (e.g. the HSE Spark Innovation grant), which created longterm uncertainty about its continuity. While longer-term funding was later secured through Comfort Keepers, the challenge of maintaining financial support remains a key consideration for future expansion or replication.
3. 3. Finding the Right Venue
   At first, the Café was held in a local parish centre, but feedback highlighted that it wasn’t accessible as the room was located on the first floor and many carers had mobility difficulties of their own. A more suitable, non-clinical space – Rua Red South Dublin Arts Centre in Tallaght – was identified, but sourcing and funding such spaces can be challenging, especially in other communities with limited public venues. Despite these challenges, the initiative adapted effectively through flexibility, collaboration and strong community partnerships.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. 1. Reduced Social Isolation
   Carers reported feeling significantly less isolated through regular peer interaction and shared experiences. The monthly sessions provided a consistent space for connection, friendship, and emotional support – countering the loneliness often experienced in caregiving roles.
2. 2. Improved Carer Wellbeing
   Carers experienced enhanced emotional and mental wellbeing, with access to therapeutic activities, supportive discussions and practical advice. The safe, welcoming environment allowed them to take time for themselves leading to reduced stress and increased resilience.
3. 3. Increased Access to Information and Community Supports
   Through guest facilitators and ongoing Social Work presence, carers gained practical knowledge, skills and resources relevant to their role. This included updates on legislation, local services and wellbeing supports, empowering carers to navigate complex care systems more effectively.