Caregiving, Employment and Social Isolation: Challenges for Rural Carers in Australia

Parental Experiences of Quality of Life When Caring for Their Children With Intellectual Disability: A Meta-Aggregation Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Parents of children with moderate to profound intellectual disabilities play a crucial role in providing direct care but often demonstrate heightened parental stress and reduced quality of life. This review explores perceived quality of life from the experiences of parents when caring for young and adult children.

METHOD

A qualitative systematic review following Joanna Briggs Institute meta-aggregation approach has been completed and reported according to PRISMA guidelines.

FINDINGS

Seventeen qualitative studies were included. Three synthesised findings were identified: 'Challenges and rewards of being a parent carer', 'The real cost of caregiver burden' and 'Surrendering self for duty - the mothers role'.

CONCLUSION

Parents of children with moderate to profound intellectual disabilities reported diminished quality of life for themselves and their families, experiencing increased physical and mental health issues associated with caregiving burdens. Future research is needed that determine what effective support systems and interventions are needed to alleviate parental caregiver burden.

Rural-urban differences in social and emotional protective factors and their association with child health and flourishing

BACKGROUND

Children in rural communities experience higher mortality rates and less access to health care services than those in urban communities. Protective factors like social support also vary by geography, but their contribution to differences in child health is understudied. Understanding geographic variation in protective health factors could provide insight into their impact on health and guide future intervention strategies.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE

To examine protective factors' association with child flourishing and child health status in rural and urban communities.

METHODS

Publicly available data from the National Survey of Children's Health, 2018-2021, with nonmissing geographic data (N = 150,493) were used to assess the relationship between protective factors and child flourishing and health by rurality. Multivariate survey-weighted probit models examined these relationships, adjusting for child and caregiver characteristics.

FINDINGS

More than a third of children were not flourishing, according to parental report. An estimated 62% of rural children were flourishing compared to 66% of urban children (P<0.001). Urban caregivers also were more likely to report better adult mental and physical health status. Nevertheless, rural children were reported to receive more social support than urban children, while their caregivers reported more emotional support and living in supportive and safe neighborhoods (P<0.001). Rural caregivers reported more support from places of worship and less from counselors/other mental health care providers than urban caregivers.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite higher reported caregiver emotional support and child social support, fewer rural children are flourishing. Health systems and community organizations able to leverage these existing social and emotional protective factors in rural communities could help close this gap.

Addressing health challenges in rural Japan: a thematic analysis of social isolation and community solutions

BACKGROUND

The establishment of sustainable connections between medical professionals and rural citizens is pivotal for effective community healthcare. Our study focuses on understanding and resolving health problems arising from social isolation, a critical barrier to achieving this goal, especially in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) pandemic's impact on community dynamics respecting social cognitive theory. This study investigates the link between social isolation and rural community healthcare. We aim to develop methods that improve interaction and collaboration between healthcare providers and rural communities, ultimately enhancing the region's healthcare system.

METHODS

Employing thematic analysis based on social cognitive theory, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 57 community workers in rural communities. This qualitative approach enabled us to delve into the nuances of social isolation and its multifaceted impact on health and community well-being.

RESULTS

Our analysis revealed four key themes: the impact of aging on social dynamics, shifts in community relationships, unique aspects of rural community networking, and the role of these networks in driving community health. Notably, we identified specific challenges, such as the erosion of intergenerational interactions and the hesitancy to seek support, exacerbated by social isolation and negatively impacting community health.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study reveals the complex factors affecting rural community sustainability, particularly social isolation influenced by privacy concerns and changing social dynamics. Emphasizing the importance of social cognitive theory, it highlights the need for adaptable healthcare systems and strong community-medical collaborations. Future research should focus on developing culturally sensitive, practical strategies for enhancing these collaborations, especially involving physicians, to address rural communities' unique challenges.

Patient and carer experiences of living with multiple myeloma and myelodysplastic syndrome

OBJECTIVE

Multiple myeloma (MM) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are treatable but incurable conditions that can substantially impact the daily lives of people living with these conditions and their carers. We sought to understand the experience of people living with and carers affected by these conditions in Tasmania, a regional area of Australia.

METHODS

Exploratory qualitative study. People living with MM or MDS or their carers in Southern Tasmania were recruited by a haematology nurse and invited to participate in focus groups. Data collection was by groups held online and face-to-face in 2022. Thematic analysis was used.

RESULTS

Ten groups were held with 48 participants (n = 23 with MM, n = 9 with MDS, n = 16 carers). Key themes arising from focus groups with people living with MM/MDS were (1) Relationships and Support; (2) Positive Attitude; (3) Perception of Condition; and (4) Symptoms and Comorbidities. Some people with MM/MDS had to take on a caring role for their carer due to carer illness. Key themes arising from carer focus groups included (1) Supportive Relationships; (2) Accommodating Change; and (3) Own Needs. Not all carers viewed their caring role as burdensome.

CONCLUSION

Future work should consider what supports are required for patients acting as carers, and carer burden should not be assumed.

The juncture and disjuncture of service delivery systems in post-parental care planning for rural people with intellectual disabilities

BACKGROUND

Australian research indicates that post-parental care transitions are rarely planned and primarily occur following a crisis for a primary carer. This paper examines disability staff perceptions of transitions for people with intellectual disability and their ageing carers in rural South Australia.

METHOD

A focus group interview model was used, with a semi-structured interview guide initiating group discussions. A thematic analysis methodological approach was selected to analyse the data.

RESULTS

This paper reports on the theme of Service Delivery, which has three sub-themes of Availability; Distance; and Individual Access. The key findings are presented and supported by the use of exemplar quotes.

CONCLUSIONS

This research indicates a poor intersection of general and specialist services is inhibiting post-parental transitional care for rural people. Simply allocating money to the individual does not resolve the issues, and the interface between different services needs to be better considered at government level.

Psychosocial vulnerability among carers of persons living with a chronic illness: A scoping review

AIMS

To outline and examine evidence related to the meaning of 'psychosocial vulnerability' among caregivers of persons with chronic illnesses.

BACKGROUND

The number of informal caregivers continues to rise globally. Their risk of psychosocial vulnerability is frequently overlooked, but understanding their psychosocial vulnerability may offer insights into meeting their needs.

DESIGN

Scoping review following the PRISMA 2020 extension guidelines.

DATA SOURCES

The databases CINAHL, Embase, Medline/Pubmed, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Lenus and ProQuest were systematically searched to identify original research. No date limit was set, and 23 studies were included.

REVIEW METHODS

A five-step approach using the Arksey and O'Malley framework. Thematic analysis guided data analysis.

RESULTS

Carers' psychosocial vulnerability occurs when they experience barriers to resources while access and use of supports reduce risk. Antecedents of psychosocial vulnerability include a carer's age and sex, socioeconomic status and their health and wellbeing. Psychosocial vulnerability affects carers' relationships and causes personal losses.

CONCLUSIONS

The concept of carers' psychosocial vulnerability is complex. Recognition of carers at risk for psychosocial vulnerability would help nurses direct relevant support and information to carers who need it most.

Social connectedness of carers: An Australian national survey of carers

Carers of people living with a disability, mental health problems, alcohol or drug dependency, chronic condition, terminal illness or who are frail due to age may experience negative caregiving impacts. Although carers' social isolation has been reported in many qualitative studies, it has largely been neglected in quantitative studies. Using data collected in the Carers NSW 2020 National Carer Survey, this large-scale quantitative study aimed to identify the extent of Australian carers' social connectedness and what factors may be related to their social well-being. The validated Friendship Scale was used to measure social connectedness of 5585 carers. More than half (56.2%) of these carers were socially isolated. Analysis found that a longer duration of caring, more time spent weekly caring, living with the care recipient, caring for a greater number of people, receiving no help from others, higher reported psychological distress and reporting perceived needs were all associated with greater social isolation. Identifying as female or nonbinary/gender diverse, identifying with a culturally and linguistically diverse background, and caring as a parent, former partner or young carer were also related to poorer social connectedness. Health and social services need to consider the needs of carers, identify carers who are socially isolated and provide resources to promote social connectedness. Greater attention in practice and research to focus on carers' social connectedness to address this crucial caregiving experience is required.

Individual and national financial impacts of informal caring for people with mental illness in Australia, projected to 2030

BACKGROUND

Mental illness has a significant impact not only on patients, but also on their carers' capacity to work.

AIMS

To estimate the costs associated with lost labour force participation due to the provision of informal care for people with mental illness in Australia, such as income loss for carers and lost tax revenue and increased welfare payments for government, from 2015 to 2030.

METHOD

The output data of a microsimulation model Care&WorkMOD were analysed to project the financial costs of informal care for people with mental illness, from 2015 to 2030. Care&WorkMOD is a population-representative microsimulation model of the Australian population aged between 15 and 64 years, built using the Australian Bureau of Statistics Surveys of Disability, Ageing and Carers data and the data from other population-representative microsimulation models.

RESULTS

The total annual national loss of income for all carers due to caring for someone with mental illness was projected to rise from AU$451 million (£219.6 million) in 2015 to AU$645 million (£314 million) in 2030 in real terms. For the government, the total annual lost tax revenue was projected to rise from AU$121 million (£58.9 million) in 2015 to AU$170 million (£82.8 million) in 2030 and welfare payments to increase from AU$170 million (£82.8 million) to AU$220 million (£107 million) in 2030.

CONCLUSIONS

The costs associated with lost labour force participation due to the provision of informal care for people with mental illness are projected to increase for both carers and government, with a widening income gap between informal carers and employed non-carers, putting carers at risk of increased inequality.

The quality of life of regional and remote cancer caregivers in Australia

Objective

This study compares the well‐being of rural caregivers with that of the general population and explores the potential drivers of poorer outcomes.

Method

Patient–caregiver dyads (n = 241) residing in regional or remote Queensland, Australia, reported on QoL, chronic illness, caregiver burden, depression, anxiety and stress. Caregiver outcomes were compared with population norms and patient outcomes. Multiple regressions were conducted to identify factors associated with poorer caregiver outcomes.

Results

Caregivers reported lower mental health‐related QoL (M = 0.436, 95% CI = 0.410–0.462) in comparison with age‐matched population norms (M = 0.556, 95% CI = 0.532–0.580). No differences existed between caregiver and population norms for anxiety, stress and depression. Caregiver chronic illness and higher burden were associated with poorer mental and physical QoL, depression, anxiety and stress (η²s ranging from 0.03 to 0.30). These associations were slightly stronger for male caregivers when compared with female caregivers (η²s ranging from 0.03 to 0.08).

Conclusion

It is vital that efforts are made to improve rural caregivers' mental and emotional well‐being. Interventions that support caregivers with chronic conditions reduce caregiver burden and take into consideration the unique experience of male caregivers will go some way to addressing this. Future research is needed to identify other drivers of health outcomes in this group.

Understanding Current Needs and Future Expectations of Informal Caregivers for Technology to Support Health and Well-being: National Survey Study

Background

There are approximately 6.5 million informal (unpaid) caregivers in the United Kingdom. Each caregiver plays a critical role in the society, supporting the health and well-being of those who are ill, disabled, or older and who need frequent support. Digital technologies are becoming a ubiquitous part of everyday life for many, but little is known about the real-world impact of technology for those in a caring role, including the abilities of technologies to address the mental and physical impacts of caregiving.

Objective

This study aims to understand the current and future technology use of caregivers, including digital technologies used to care for themselves and the person they look after.

Methods

We codeveloped a wide range of questions with caregivers and care professionals and delivered this survey both on the web and in paper format (eg, using social networks such as Twitter alongside in-person events). Questions were focused on providing care and looking after caregiver health and well-being. Analyses focused on both quantitative outcomes (frequency counts and Likert questions) and explored free text entries (thematic analysis).

Results

From 356 respondents, we identified that caregivers were receptive to, and largely positive about current and future use of technology both for their own care and their caring role (eg, checking in from distance). There were notable concerns, including the risk that technology could replace human contact. We identified several key areas for future work, including communication with health and social care professionals, and the potential for technology to help caregivers with their own health. We also identified several stakeholders (eg, care workers, pharmacy staff, and general practitioners) who could act as suitable points for technology signposting and support.

Conclusions

Caregivers are a transient, often difficult to reach population, and this work has collated a large body of knowledge across a diverse group of individuals. Many caregivers, like the rest of society, are realizing the benefits of using everyday technology to help deliver care. It is clear that there is already a high level of dependency on technologies, where future expectations will grow. However, many barriers to digital technology use remain, including a lack of ongoing technology support. Preventive measures linked to technology that can help look after a caregiver’s own health appear acceptable, particularly for communicative tools. This collated caregiver knowledge is a call for all stakeholders—academics, policy makers, and practitioners—to take note of these specific challenges, and to ensure that caregiver voices are both heard and fully integrated within the emerging digital health agenda.

Factors associated with social support for family members who care for stroke survivors

Introduction

Vascular strokes are a primary cause of long-term disability for adults, with many social consequences for the patient, the family and healthcare systems worldwide.

Aim

To investigate the relation between patients' and caregivers' characteristics, as well as burden and depression, and the social support received by carers for stroke victims in Greece.

Method

Patients and caregivers were recruited from community settings in the Attica region of Greece, using purposive sampling. They completed a set of questionnaires during face-to-face interviews. Correlational and multiple regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with caregivers' perceptions of social support.

Results

In total, 109 dyads of patients and their respective caregivers were recruited. The patients' mean age was 69.3 years, while caregivers' mean age was 58.0 years; 51.4% of patients were males, whereas 67.9% of the caregivers were females. The majority of both patients and caregivers were married, with an annual family income less than €10,000. The level of perceived social support was significantly associated with patients' or caregivers' annual family income, caregivers' working status and the daily caring hours (p < 0.01). Greater perceived support was significantly associated with a lower care burden BCOS (r = 0.29, p < 0.01) and female gender (p = 0.023), but not with the patient's functional level nor with depression (p > 0.05).

Codesigning a supportive online resource for Australian cancer carers: a thematic analysis of informal carers' and healthcare professionals' perspectives about carers' responsibilities and content needs

OBJECTIVE

To gather preliminary qualitative data that will assist in the codesign and development of a new informational and supportive website to assist informal cancer carers in Australia.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Utilising a previously tested codesign process, informal carers' experiences and perspectives, including those of healthcare professionals', were examined via focus groups and/or interviews. Data were analysed via thematic analysis.

PARTICIPANTS

Rural (n=9) and urban (n=11) carers', and healthcare professionals' (n=8) perspectives were collected. Carers participated in a focus group (n=9) or telephone interview (n=11). Healthcare professionals completed an interview (n=6) or online survey (n=2).

RESULTS

Rural and urban carers typically felt ill prepared for their multitudinal caregiving responsibilities. Supporting patient-to-healthcare professional liaisons could especially challenge. Carers' biopsychosocial and fiscal strains were affected by patients' hardships and available informal supports. Rural carers described greater social support than urban carers. Both rural and urban carers also described discontentment related to a carer neglecting healthcare system. Both carers and healthcare professionals endorsed the need for a user-friendly, carer-specific website encompassing practical information and resources, peer-driven advice and evidence-based illness information, tailored to the Australian context.

CONCLUSIONS

Carers and healthcare professionals recognise the pressing need for an Australian, cancer carer-specific online resource. Findings will inform the next phase, where a resource will be designed, developed and tested.

A systematic review of disability, rehabilitation and lifestyle services in rural and remote Australia through the lens of the people-centred health care

PURPOSE

The aim of this systematic review was to identify models of community disability, rehabilitation and lifestyle service delivery in non-metropolitan areas of Australia, and to describe these models through an Integrated People-Centred Health Services (IPCHS) lens.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We identified peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and June 2021 that met the following criteria: described or evaluated a community service delivery model, intervention or program in regional, rural or remote Australia; provided for people with a disability or a potentially disabling health condition. A scoring rubric was developed covering the five IPCHS strategies.

RESULTS

Nineteen studies were included in the review. We identified a range of service delivery models providing support to people with a range of disabilities or conditions. We report evidence of the use of the IPCHS strategies in ways relevant to the local context.

DISCUSSION

Several strengths emerged, with many services tailored to individual need, and significant community engagement. Innovative rural service delivery approaches were also identified. Key areas requiring action included improved coordination or integration within and across professions and sectors. There was limited evidence of co-production of solutions or participatory governance. While people-centred approaches show promise to improve community-based services, large-scale fundamental change is required.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONCommunity-based disability and rehabilitation services in rural and remote Australia performed well at delivering tailored care and engaging in community consultation.These services must urgently implement strategies to enhance community ownership of solutions and participatory governance.Services must place a greater focus on explicit strategies to integrate and coordinate across services and professions, and to create an enabling environment, to deliver people-centred care.The World Health Organisation Integrated People-Centred Health Services framework provides an important roadmap to improving service delivery in rural and remote Australian communities.

Quantifying the size of the informal care sector for Australian adults with mental illness: caring hours and replacement cost

PURPOSE

To quantify and value the total informal support provided by family and friends to Australian adults with mental illness in 2018.

METHODS

The number of mental health carers was drawn from the 2015 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC), adjusted to the 2018 population. Annual caring hours by type of assistance were estimated using the SDAC, 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing and an online carer survey. Caring hours for each task were assigned an hourly replacement cost from the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Informal caring was valued as the sum of these costs minus expenditure on carer income support payments, estimating how much it would hypothetically cost governments to replace this care with formal support services.

RESULTS

An estimated 354,000 (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 327,000-383,000) Australian mental health carers provided 186 million (95% UI: 159-215) hours of support in 2018. The estimated replacement cost was AU$8.4 billion (95% UI: 7.0-10.0), excluding AU$1.3 billion in income support. Univariate sensitivity analyses demonstrated that results were robust to variation in model inputs, with total caring hours the most influential parameter. Using an alternative estimate of mean caring hours, the replacement cost could be as high as AU$13.2 billion (95% UI: 11.2-15.4).

CONCLUSION

Informal carers provide substantial support to people with mental illness, highlighting their important contribution to the mental health system and reinforcing the need for carer support services. Future valuation studies would benefit from refinement of available data collections, particularly on hours and types of care provided.

A multilevel mixed effects analysis of informal carers health in Australia: the role of community participation, social support and trust at small area level

BACKGROUND

Informal carers suffer from worse health outcomes than non-carers due to their caregiving role. Yet, in a society carers health is as important as that of their care recipients. This study investigated the self-assessed mental and general health outcomes of informal carers in Australia. It evaluated the influence of carers' personal social capital- a logically linked sequence of their social behaviour such as community participation, social support and trust in others- on their health outcomes. The study estimated the magnitude of small area level variation at Statistical Area Level 1 (SA1) along with individual level variation in carers' health outcomes.

METHODS

The study used a multilevel mixed effects cross-sectional design using data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics of Australia survey, wave 14. It included Australians aged 15 years and older that were surveyed in the year 2014. The sample consisted of 12,767 individuals and 5004 SA1s. The outcome measures included- mental health, general health and physical functioning, domains of the Short Form 36 Questionnaire, a widely used multi-dimensional measure of health-related quality of life.

RESULTS

Informal carers suffered from poor mental (Beta = - 0.587, p = 0.003) and general health (Beta = - 0.670, p = 0.001) outcomes compared to non-carers in Australia. These health outcomes exhibited significant variation acrossSA1s in Australia, with 12-13% variation in general and mental health. However, within small local areas, differences at the individual level, accounted for most of the variation in outcomes. Moreover, levels of community participation, personal social connection and trust, as perceived by individuals in the communities, had a positive influence on both mental and general health of carers and non-carers, and were more beneficial for carers compared to non-carers.

CONCLUSION

It seems that the positive influence of social capital for carers helps them in coping with the negative impact of their caregiving duty on health outcomes. Findings suggested that some targeted community support programs for carers to build on their personal social cohesion and trust in their community could help in improving their poor health profiles. Moreover, improved informal carers' health may help the health system in better managing their resources.

The impact of caregiving on the health status of regional carers in Australia: Findings from a mixed-method study

While it is known that informal carers provide the majority of caregiving in Australia, there remains limited understanding of the challenges that regional carers face in their caring role and the impact of the caregiving role on carer well-being.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to better understand the health status of caregivers as the person they care for was entering the National Disability Support Scheme.

DESIGN

This is a mixed-methods study.

SETTING

The study was undertaken in regional New South Wales, Australia.

PARTICIPANTS

Seventy-five carers were enrolled into the study. All lived in regional New South Wales.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The World Health Organization Well-being Index was used for quantitative data collection, and semi-structured interviews were undertaken for the collection of qualitative data.

RESULT

Quantitative data indicated that carers from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds and those from low socio-economic status had significantly lower scores on the well-being index. Two key qualitative categories were evident describing carer's journey to resilience by (a) adjusting to reality predominantly through cognitive reframing strategies and (b) carers accessing external supports.

CONCLUSION

The health status of regional carers who are predominantly women is experiencing low levels of well-being. While many of these carers have initiated successful coping responses to the challenges of caring, there is an urgent need to increase the supports available to this population. As the recent National Disability Support Scheme is embedded, it is of importance to monitor if there are improvements in the health status of carers over time.

Strain Among Caregivers of Older Adults Diagnosed With Breast Cancer

OBJECTIVES

To illustrate the predictors of strain among caregivers of older adults diagnosed with breast cancer.

SAMPLE & SETTING

This study involved 39 women diagnosed with breast cancer who were aged 69 years or older, receiving any type of treatment, and seeking an initial assessment in a geriatric oncology program at a large cancer center in the midwestern United States and their caregivers.

METHODS & VARIABLES

This cross-sectional study evaluated relationships among the variables of caregiver strain, age, employment status, patient characteristics, and patient scores on the comprehensive geriatric assessment. Bivariate statistics and logistic regression models were used.

RESULTS

Increasing age of the caregiver was associated with less caregiver strain. Caregivers employed part-time experienced greater strain than those employed full-time.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

Nurses must assess for strain in caregivers of individuals diagnosed with cancer, particularly if they are younger and employed part-time. Caregivers of depressed patients should be assessed for strain and offered support.