Home-based assessment for family carers: A preventative strategy toidentify and meet service needs
J. Nankervis
Bok Engelsk 1997
| Utgitt | 1997
|
|---|---|
| Omfang | Side 193- 201
|
| Opplysninger | Objective. To identify unmet need for services among family carersand their frail or disabled relatives and to facilitate links toservices.Design. Intervention study with a subgroup of carer dyads from arandom statewide survey of family carers, followed by telephone 2months post intervention.Setting. Carer dyads in general community; urban and rural Victoria.Participants, All 186 identified carers were approached, One-third ofthe dyads were ineligible; of the remainder, 67 (53%) participated,matching refusals on sociodemographic characteristics. Carers weretypically married, middle-aged women looking after parents orspouses. Almost half of the care recipients were aged greater than orequal to 80; most had multiple disorders and impairments. Follow-uprate was 94%.Intervention. One off, multidisciplinary home-based assessment ofdyad by research team and regional aged care assessment service(ACAT).Main outcome measures. 'Unmet need': % dyads recommended newservices; number services per dyad via ACAT; increases in servicerange; extension of pre-existing services. Service linkage: % dyadslinked to new services; perceived usefulness of linkages.Main results. Dyads recommended a new service (93%); increased range(73%); extensions (41%). Average two services requiring ACATimplementation; commonly respite care, aids and paramedical services.Recommendations related to impairment severity and carer stress. ACATimplemented recommendations (90% relevant dyads); links rated useful(75% relevant dyads), Three-quarters of the carers rated interventionas helpful.Conclusion. A preventative programme of needs assessment for carerdyads has considerable potential; (a) identifying needs and engagingnew services; (b) providing emotional support.
|
| Emner |
