International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry

Volume 12, Issue 2 pp. 193-201

Research Article

HOME-BASED ASSESSMENT FOR FAMILY CARERS: A PREVENTATIVE STRATEGY TO IDENTIFY AND MEET SERVICE NEEDS

JULIE NANKERVIS,

JULIE NANKERVIS

University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Australia

Search for more papers by this author

HILARY SCHOFIELD,

HILARY SCHOFIELD

University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Australia

Search for more papers by this author

HELEN HERRMAN,

HELEN HERRMAN

University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Australia

Search for more papers by this author

SIDNEY BLOCH,

Corresponding Author

SIDNEY BLOCH

University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Australia

Psychiatric Services, St Vincent's Hospital, 41 Victoria Pde, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia, 3065.Search for more papers by this author

JULIE NANKERVIS,

JULIE NANKERVIS

University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Australia

Search for more papers by this author

HILARY SCHOFIELD,

HILARY SCHOFIELD

University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Australia

Search for more papers by this author

HELEN HERRMAN,

HELEN HERRMAN

University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Australia

Search for more papers by this author

SIDNEY BLOCH,

Corresponding Author

SIDNEY BLOCH

University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Australia

Psychiatric Services, St Vincent's Hospital, 41 Victoria Pde, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia, 3065.Search for more papers by this author

First published: 04 December 1998

https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1166(199702)12:2<193::AID-GPS580>3.0.CO;2-U

Citations: 19

About

PDF

Tools

Share a link

Email
Wechat
Bluesky

Abstract

Objective. To identify unmet need for services among family carers and their frail or disabled relatives and to facilitate links to services.

Design. Intervention study with a subgroup of carer dyads from a random statewide survey of family carers, followed by telephone 2 months post intervention.

Setting. Carer dyads in general community; urban and rural Victoria.

Participants. All 186 identified carers were approached. One-third of the dyads were ineligible; of the remainder, 67 (53%) participated, matching refusals on sociodemographic characteristics. Carers were typically married, middle-aged women looking after parents or spouses. Almost half of the care recipients were aged ≥80; most had multiple disorders and impairments. Follow-up rate was 94%.

Intervention. One off, multidisciplinary home-based assessment of dyad by research team and regional aged care assessment service (ACAT).

Main outcome measures. ‘Unmet need’: % dyads recommended new services; number services per dyad via ACAT; increases in service range; extension of pre-existing services. Service linkage: % dyads linked to new services; perceived usefulness of linkages.

Main results. Dyads recommended a new service (93%); increased range (73%); extensions (41%). Average two services requiring ACAT implementation; commonly respite care, aids and paramedical services. Recommendations related to impairment severity and carer stress. ACAT implemented recommendations (90% relevant dyads); links rated useful (75% relevant dyads). Three-quarters of the carers rated intervention as helpful.

Conclusion. A preventative programme of needs assessment for carer dyads has considerable potential; (a) identifying needs and engaging new services; (b) providing emotional support. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

References

Arch, M. (1992) Diagnosis and Disability Survey Part 2: Characteristics of clients recommended for four action plans. In Aged Care Research Group: Tenth Progress Report (Pt 1), La Trobe University pp. 63–73.
Google Scholar
Australian Bureau of Statistics (1990) Carers of the Handicapped at Home. Catalogue No: 4122.0. Australian Government Publishing Services, Canberra.
Google Scholar
Brown, J. and McCallum, J. (1991) Geriatric Assessment & Community Care: A Follow-Up Study. Department of Housing, Health & Community Services, Australian Government Publishing Services, Canberra.
Google Scholar
Brown, L., Potter, J. and Foster, B. (1990) Caregiver burden should evaluated during geriatric assessment, J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 38, 455–460.
10.1111/j.1532-5415.1990.tb03545.x
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Butler, A. (1993) What use is the minimum data set? In Aged Care Research Group: Twelfth Progress Report (Pt 1), La Trobe University, pp. 116–131.
Google Scholar
Carpenter, G. and Demopoulos, G. (1990) Screening the elderly in the community: Controlled trial of dependency surveillance using a questionnaire administered by volunteers, Brit. Med. J. 300, 1253–1256.
10.1136/bmj.300.6734.1253
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Chappell, N. (1985) Social support and the receipt of home care services. Gerontologist 25, 47–54.
10.1093/geront/25.1.47
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Department of Community Services & Health (1988) Commonwealth Guidelines For Assessment Services. Australian Government Publishing Services, Canberra.
Google Scholar
Fabacher, D., Josephson, K., Pietruszka, F., Linder-born, K., Morley, J. and Rubenstein, L. (1994) An in-home preventative assessment program for independent older adults: A randomised controlled trial, J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 42, 630–638.
10.1111/j.1532-5415.1994.tb06862.x
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Fine, M. and Thompson, C. (1993) A partnership in care? The use of formal services and informal support in the home by home and community care clients. In Theory & Practice in Australian Social Policy: Rethinking the Fundamentals, Vol. 2, R7P No. 112 ( P. Saunders and S. Shaver, Eds) Social Policy Research Centre, University of NSW.
Google Scholar
Fortinsky, R. H., Granger, C. V. and Seltzer, G. B. (1981) The use of functional assessment in understanding home care needs. Med. Care 19, (5), 489–497.
10.1097/00005650-198105000-00002
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Gonyea, J. and Silverstein, N. (1991) The role of Alzheimer's disease support groups in families' utilization of community services. J. Gerontol. Soc. W. 16, (3–4), 43–53.
10.1300/J083v16n03_05
Web of Science® Google Scholar
Green, H. (1988) Informal Carers: General Household Survey 1985. GHS No 15, Suppl. A. HMSO, London.
Google Scholar
Harrison, S., Martin, E., Rous, S. and Wilson, S. (1985) Assessing the needs of the elderly using unsolicited visits by health visitors. J. Roy. Soc. Med. 78, 557–561.
10.1177/014107688507800708
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Hendrickson, C., Lund, E. and Stomgard, E. (1984) Consequences of assessment and intervention among elderly people: A three year randomised control trial. Brit. Med. J. 289, (Dec.), 1522–1524.
10.1136/bmj.289.6457.1522
Google Scholar
Herrman, H., Schofield, S., Murphy, B. and Singh, B. (1994) The experiences and quality of life of informal caregivers. In Quality of life Assessment: International Perspectives ( J. Orley and W. Kuyken, Eds) Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Google Scholar
Lawton, M. P. and Brody, E. M. (1969) Assessment of older people: Self-maintaining and instrumental activities of daily living. Gerontologist 9, 179–186.
10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01590.x
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
LoGiudice, D., Waltrowicz, W., McKenzie, S., Ames, D. and Flicker, L. (1995) The prevalence of dementia among patients referred to an aged care assessment team and associated stress in their carers. Aust. J. Pub. Health 19, 275–279.
10.1111/j.1753-6405.1995.tb00443.x
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Moen, E. (1978) The reluctance of the elderly to accept help. Soc. Prob. 25, 293–303.
10.1525/sp.1978.25.3.03a00060
Web of Science® Google Scholar
Montgomery, R. and Borgatta, E. (1989) The effect of alternative support strategies on family caregiving. Gerontologist 29, 457–464.
10.1093/geront/29.4.457
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Montgomery, R. and Hatch, L. (1987) The feasibility of volunteers and families forming a partnership for caregiving. In Ageing Health and Family: Long Term Care ( T. Brubaker, Ed.). Sage, Ca, USA.
Google Scholar
Opie, A., Fulcher, L., Hawke, G. and Allen, N. (1992) There's Nobody There: Community Care of Confused Older People. Oxford University Press, Auckland.
10.9783/9781512818321
Google Scholar
Potter, J. (1993) Comprehensive geriatric assessment in the outpatient setting: Population characteristics and factors influencing outcome. Exp. Gerontol. 28, 447–457.
10.1016/0531-5565(93)90070-T
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Ramsdell, J., Swart, J., Jackson, J. and Renvell, M. (1989) The yield of a home visit in the assessment of geriatric patients. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 37, 17–24.
10.1111/j.1532-5415.1989.tb01563.x
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Rickwood, D. (1995) Dependency in the Aged: Measurement and Client Profiles for Aged Care. Welfare Division Working Paper No. 5. AIHW, Canberra.
Google Scholar
Rossiter, C. (1994) Aged Care Assessment Teams and People with Dementia: A Family Carer's Perspective. Alzheimers Association Australia, NSW.
Google Scholar
Schofield, H., Herrman, H., Bloch, S., Howe, A. and Singh, B. (1996) A profile of Australian family care-givers: Diversity of roles and circumstances. Aust. J. Pub. Health, in press.
Google Scholar
Schofield, H., Herrman, H., Bloch, S. and Singh, B. (1995) Health and Wellbeing of Family Carers: A Comparative Study. 7th IPA Congress, ‘Spirit in Aging’, Sydney, November 1995. Abstracts, Buckprint Graphics, pp. 133.
Google Scholar
Silliman, R., McGarvey, S., Raymond, P. and Fretwell, M. (1990) The Senior Care Study: Does inpatient interdisciplinary geriatric assessment help the family caregivers of acutely ill older patients? J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 38(4), 461–466.
10.1111/j.1532-5415.1990.tb03546.x
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Social Psychiatry Research Unit (1994) The Canberra Interview for the Elderly: Abbreviated Version. Australian National University, Canberra.
Google Scholar
Spector, W. and Kemper, P. (1994) Disability and cognitive impairment criteria: Targeting those who need the most home care. Gerontologist 34,(5), 640–651.
10.1093/geront/34.5.640
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Spencer, M. P. and Folstein, M. F. (1986) The Mini-Mental State Examination. In Innovations in Clinical Practice: A Source Book (A. Keller, Ed.) Professional Resource Exchange, Sarasota, Fl.
Google Scholar
Williams, M. and Williams, T. (1986) Evaluation of older persons in the ambulatory setting. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 34(1), 37–43.
10.1111/j.1532-5415.1986.tb06337.x
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Wolinsky, F. and Johnson, R. (1991) The use of health services by older adults, J. Gerontol. 46(6), S345–357.
10.1093/geronj/46.6.S345
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar

Citing Literature

Volume12, Issue2

February 1997

Pages 193-201

HOME-BASED ASSESSMENT FOR FAMILY CARERS: A PREVENTATIVE STRATEGY TO IDENTIFY AND MEET SERVICE NEEDS

Abstract

References

Citing Literature

References

Information

About Wiley Online Library

Help & Support

Opportunities

Connect with Wiley

HOME-BASED ASSESSMENT FOR FAMILY CARERS: A PREVENTATIVE STRATEGY TO IDENTIFY AND MEET SERVICE NEEDS

Abstract

References

Citing Literature

References

Related

Information