Supporting Carers

One important aspect of the nurses’ role in palliative care is that of supporting carers. Carers are those who look after someone at home, and are usually considered informal or lay carers as they are not being paid for what they do. The amount of care provided and time spent on informal caring is well documented and saves many millions of dollars each year. It is important then that support is provided for carers.

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Relevant Studies

Websites

  • CarerHelp provides practical information and resources for carers of people with palliative care needs
  • caring@home provides education and resources for you and your care nurse on administering subcutaneous medications
  • The Advance Project - Better primary health care through team-based initiation of advance care planning and palliative care
  • The International Palliative Care Family Carer Research Collaboration (IPCFRC)
  • Carers Australia: national advocacy body with local support networks for carers
  • The Carers Alert Thermometer (CAT) is a short screening tool to identify and support the needs of unpaid family carers providing end of life care at home. It has been developed with carers and professionals in the UK to ensure it is evidence-based and assesses the most important areas of carer burden. It is available free of charge.

Guidelines / Documents / Factsheets

Video

  • From the Palliative Care Bridge website. Listen to Dr Jenny Broadbent talk about caring for carers.

Last updated 06 April 2021