Susan Slatyer

Introduction: Older adults who take on carer roles often face challenges in addressing their own health and wellbeing needs. As the care demands of their care recipient(s) increase, the needs of the care-partner may be overlooked.

Objective: This study aimed to implement and evaluate a novel co-designed multidisciplinary Carer Health and Wellbeing Service (CHWS) in Australia, targeting older care-partners (aged 50+ years) to prioritise their health and wellbeing needs.

Method: A mixed methods pre-post 6-month study design was employed. Assessments at CHWS commencement and discharge with consenting clients included: Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT); Preparedness for Caregiving Scale (PCS); Family Appraisal of Caregiving Questionnaire (FACQ); Quality of Life (EQ-5D-5L); and Health Economics Survey.

Results: From the 62 participants who have consented to date (86% conversion rate of CHWS clients), the majority were female (n=44; 71%). Key prioritised needs identified through the CSNAT included: 1) managing their relationships; 2) dealing with feelings and worries; and 3) having time for themselves. Preliminary post-data shows that 74% of CSNAT needs were met, 26% were ongoing, and none were unmet. Preparedness for caregiving improved from a pre-score of 2.1/4 to a post-score of 2.6/4. Quality of life scores also improved over the 6-month episode of care, particularly in areas related to pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Detailed pre- and post-data comparisons will be presented.

Conclusion: The health and wellbeing needs of older care-partners of older people significantly benefit from formalised support services such as the CHWS. Preliminary results support the effectiveness of the CHWS in enhancing care-partner outcomes and preparedness. The identified key priorities highlight the critical need for such services to support and sustain care-partners in their roles effectively.