Assessing Carers and Family

Acknowledging the role and needs of family

Being a carer can be stressful as well as rewarding. Carers need information and support.

Nurses can help by acknowledging the role of the family and carer(s) and including them as an important part of the care team.

When a person is faced with a life-limiting illness, it affects each member of the family as well as the family group. Family members must try to find new balance during the illness and after the person has died.

Related Resources

CareSearch GP Hub – Assessing family and caregivers
CareSearch Community – Carer needs tool

The experience of caring will be shaped by:

the duration and intensity of caring
their capacity to develop skills and feel confident in caring
their capacity to meet the demands/responsibilities of caring in the context of their personal and professional life
the types of care/treatment decisions that need to be made
the carer’s sense of support that they receive
cultural norms and expectations
challenges of caring for a person with cognitive impairment (e.g. a person with dementia and their deteriorating sense of self)
financial stressors.

Carer assessment can help check their wellbeing, help them understand what is happening and what is likely to happen, support them in their role, and offer timely referral to appropriate services.

In practice

Use the Carer needs assessment tools to help people identify their needs which can then be discussed with their GP.

For family and carers looking for information, refer them to the CareSearch pages: Patients and carers, and provide them with the CareSearch Patient and Carer booklet.

Support groups (in person or online) are available to assist carers. The shared experience of life with a serious illness and can be practical and comforting. CareSearch has information for support groups or organisations that can help carers access support.

The palliAGED forms for older people and their families can support carers learn about palliative care and case conferences (53kb pdf) and put together a self-care plan (57kb pdf). Other useful forms help manage medicines and keep up-to-date contact list of people in the care team.

Download or order the CareSearch Palliative Care Support for Patients, Carers and Families booklet

References
This information was drawn from the following resources:
- Chovan JD. Principles of patient and family assessment [Internet]. 2019. In: Ferrell BR, Paice JA, editors. Oxford textbook of palliative nursing. 5th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2019. [cited 22 Sep 26].
- Stajduhar KI, Dionne-Odom JN. Supporting families and family caregivers in palliative care [Internet]. 2019. In: Ferrell BR, Paice JA, editors. Oxford textbook of palliative nursing. 5th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2019. [cited 22 Sep 26].