Summary of nurse actions to address the top three family carers’ support needs
| Knowing what to expect in the future when caring for your relative | |
| Illness and symptoms | Explored carer’s understanding of the patient’s illness, current situation, symptom control. |
| Discussed, for example, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, renal failure, palliative care. | |
| Suggested attend doctors’ appointments with patient or, with patient’s consent, speak to doctor. | |
| Advised on doctors’ referral options to specialists and allied health professionals. | |
| Verified questions carers may like to ask the doctor and discussed new strategies. | |
| Reinforced plan to organise and attend family meeting with the doctor. | |
| Home care and residential care | Discussed available services (eligibility criteria and assessment process). |
| Referred to hospital social worker as indicated. | |
| Recommended useful aged care services to enable carers’ informed decisions about home care services, residential care questions and cost calculations. | |
| Reinforced the family carer’s follow-up with previous or current aged care assessments. | |
| Referred to assessment services to arrange domestic support. | |
| Navigated family carers through the options and listened to their concerns. | |
| Legal aspects | Discussed legal considerations if mental or physical health of relative declines. |
| Recommended to contact appropriate services for more information and forms. | |
| Knowing who to contact if you are concerned about your relative | |
| Discussed or confirmed appropriate actions with family carer in a medical emergency—focus on after-hours services. | |
| Used case scenarios to demonstrate various situations and responses. | |
| Suggested implementing a contact list of useful services. | |
| Discussed strategies to stay calm in a stressful situation. | |
| Reinforced the need to seek help early before a situation escalates. | |
| Explained emergency respite, personal alarms, other equipment resources and continence services. | |
| Discussed the family carer’s awareness of legal decisions made by the patient for the future. | |
| Practical help in the home | |
| Discussed domestic help options and initiated referrals to appropriate agencies. | |
| Explored existing support (family members, other support services). | |