Keeping carers healthy: the role of community nurses and colleagues

Abstract

Carers form a substantial proportion of the patients seen by primary care professionals, but their health needs are often overlooked. By recognizing and addressing the needs of the carer as well as the patient, primary care staff (including practice, community and district nurses) can protect the physical and mental health of both. Staff can start by developing simple systems for identifying and recording both patients who are carers, and patient who have carers. Primary health professionals may be able to identify specific opportunities for checking on carers' health, e.g. at general health checks or clinics for older people or those with chronic disease. Community nurses should ensure that they use their home visits to keep an eye on the health of the carer as well as the patient. Much of this input can be integrated into the everyday activities and priorities of the primary care team.

An exploratory study of anxiety in carers of stroke survivors

“…Anxiety is a relatively neglected emotional outcome amongst these carers, and it should not be assumed that attempts at reducing depression will also reduce anxiety. Nurses in the community play an important role in supporting family carers (Hare 2004), and increased awareness of the prevalence of anxiety amongst carers could facilitate its identification. Research is needed that tracks carer anxiety early on in caring close to discharge to later in caring.…”

Meeting the mental and physical healthcare needs of carers

“…Their own GP is often the first health professional with whom carers will have contact. Primary care staff are in an excellent position to identify and meet the healthcare needs of carers, especially carers who support someone with a mental illness, children who are carers, carers from Black and minority ethnic groups and carers in rural areas (Hare, 2004). Various systems can be used to compile a register of carers.…”

The experience of caring for someone over 75 years of age: results from a Scottish General Practice population

“…The Primary Health Care Team (PHCT) and, in particular, General Practitioners (GPs) and nurses are in an ideal position to monitor and assess the problems of care recipients and their carers (Peckham & Wilson 2001, Simon & Kendrick 2001, Keeley & Clarke 2002). There is an increasing awareness of the role of the PHCT in supporting carers (Simon & Kendrick 2001, Syron & Shelley 2001, Hare 2004, Stolz et al. 2004, Jarvis & Worth 2005).…”