Assessing carers and 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.

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.