A qualitative exploration of the physical and psychological wellbeing of family carers of veterans in Australia

Abstract

Family carers of veterans have a tendency not to seek support for their own wellbeing concerns. Understanding the barriers and enablers that family carers face in attending to their own wellbeing and in their caring role generally, is key to supporting family carers of veterans. This qualitative study sought to explore family carers’ experiences and perceptions of their caring role, using semi-structured interviews. Questions were designed to capture concepts related to the barriers and enablers family carers face in attending to their own wellbeing. Twenty-two family carers participated in interviews. Thematic analysis facilitated the identification of key themes including the impact of the caring role; a perceived lack of recognition or appreciation of the caring role; expressed preferences for support; and consideration of the family unit. Findings suggest a need for accessible and multi-faceted support services for family carers of veterans, that target the drivers of physical and psychological wellbeing.