title: Home-based assessment for family carers: a preventative strategy to identify and meet service needs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify unmet need for services among family carers and their frail or disabled relatives and to facilitate links to services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intervention study with a subgroup of carer dyads from a random statewide survey of family carers, followed by telephone 2 months post intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Carer dyads in general community; urban and rural Victoria.
  
  
  METHODS
  All 186 identified carers were approached. One-third of the dyads were ineligible; of the remainder, 67 (53%) participated, matching refusals on sociodemographic characteristics. Carers were typically married, middle-aged women looking after parents or spouses. Almost half of the care recipients were aged > or = 80; most had multiple disorders and impairments. Follow-up rate was 94%.
  
  
  METHODS
  One off, multidisciplinary home-based assessment of dyad by research team and regional aged care assessment service (ACAT).
  
  
  METHODS
  "Unmet need': % dyads recommended new services; number services per dyad via ACAT; increases in service range; extension of pre-existing services. Service linkage: % dyads linked to new services; perceived usefulness of linkages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dyads recommended a new service (93%); increased range (73%); extensions (41%). Average two services requiring ACAT implementation; commonly respite care, aids and paramedical services. Recommendations related to impairment severity and carer stress. ACAT implemented recommendations (90% relevant dyads); links rated useful (75% relevant dyads). Three-quarters of the carers rated intervention as helpful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A preventative programme of needs assessment for carer dyads has considerable potential; (a) identifying needs and engaging new services; (b) providing emotional support.
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nankervis
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schofield
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Herrman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bloch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012144:Respite Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012944:Social Support; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology