Research in 2006 by Helpage International and partners of Tanzania shows that 20-45 % of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and 25-75 % of vulnerable children are cared for in older headed households. Older people’s role of caring for their dependents is difficult in a complex environment. They are unprepared due to the little knowledge or skills to assist them in their unfamiliar but everyday caring role. They face stigma and discrimination when accessing services. The burden of caring is made even more difficult by their isolation because no formal support structure exits in the communities where they live.
The manual "Building Bridges" outlines the home-based care (HBC) model for supporting older carers of PLWHA , which expands upon the Tanzanian national guidelines for home-based care service providers. The HBC model is aimed at national policy makers, relevant district level authorities, local health service providers, local government, and older people and other civil society organisations.
The manual outlines the components of the HBC model:
- Collection of baseline information
- Training of older carers in home-based care and counselling
- Initiating support groups for trained home based carers, peer education and for self advocacy
- Linking older cares to support services
Suggestions are given rather than a step by step guide for the implementation of the above components including indicators, criteria, suggested activities and which actors should participate in the different stages.
