The results of a previous project demonstrated the family council method’s potential to substantially contribute to easing the relatives’ burden, in particular in the context of providing care. In addition, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection named the method as an appropriate instrument to identify social and professional resources when it comes to young carers. For a broad, financially supported rollout of this method, evidence on the supporting effect of the method going beyond individual cases is needed. Furthermore, it is necessary to obtain more detailed knowledge as to which information and support is needed to refer relatives and other non-professional caregivers of older people as well as relatives of young carers to family council services and allow them to benefit from their potential.

In essence, this project aims to 1.) define criteria to determine the (in)effectiveness of the family council method, both when it comes to the provision of care to older people and in the context of young carers, 2.) develop documents to support users of family council services and persons who could refer non-professional caregivers to family council services, and 3.) evaluate the methods developed in a previous project within the context of care. The overall goal is to take further steps towards gaining more concrete results in evaluating the method of the family council both in the context of care of older people and with regard to young carers.