Abstract
Objective: To examine the use of respite services
among carers of non-institutionalised individuals aged
15 and over with either profound or severe disabilities.
Methods: Based on data collected from the Australian
Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers in 2003,
the investigation evaluated the statistical significance
of a number of carer and recipient characteristics on
the likelihood of the use of respite services. Further
analysis assisted in identifying the support most
desired by the majority of carers (88.6%, n=243690)
who have never used respite.
Results: The results revealed that social and cultural
factors played a critical role in the receipt of respite
services. Family relationships were important. Just
under one-fifth of all primary carers most preferred
more financial assistance in their role as caregiver.
After controlling for confounding variables it was found
that, compared with other forms of assistance, the
desire for an improvement in the primary carers? own
health was more likely among non-respite users. This
may reflect the carers? preference to improve their
own capacity to service the recipient rather than rely
on others outside the household.
Conclusions: Since the recipients under investigation
typically possess core communication restrictions
and highly individualised needs, it is speculated that
carers perceive family members as better able to
interpret and meet the sporadic and individualised
care demands of recipients.
Implications: Given the low usage of respite services
among primary informal carers, policy makers
and health organisations need to dispel the ?one size
fits all? approach to support services for households.
Cited by
17 articles.
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