Background
Well coordinated and integrated home based care is an efficient and
cost effective model for providing long term care. There is, however,
emerging evidence to suggest that family members pay a price for
taking on long term care responsibilities at home.
Objective
This article draws on published literature to provide an overview of
the health, economic, and social issues faced by informal carers. The
objective is to contribute to the knowledge base of clinicians about
the impact of chronic disease and disability on families taking on
the care responsibility in a home environment, thereby informing the
delivery of best practice.
Discussion
In 2006, there were approximately 632 694 primary carers aged 15
years or more in Australia. These carers collectively have the lowest
level of wellbeing scored by any group, and compared to the general
population have a significantly higher level of depression, were more
likely to experience physical pain, and more likely to experience
financial stress. Failure by clinicians to recognise the burden on
informal carers may result in long term adverse outcomes for this
group that may outweigh the benefits of managing people with
disability and chronic illness in the community.
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