INFORMATION FOR FAMILY CARERS - DOES IT HELP

Family carers in Victoria were identified through a statewide telephon e survey in 1993. A total of 976 carers was interviewed and a random s ample of approximately one in 10 (n=103) were offered the Carer Suppor t Kit leaflet The leaflet details the components of the Carer Support Kit (a Federal Government initiative developed in 1992-93) and informs carers how to apply for it through the Victorian Carers' Association. Approximately three-quarters of these carers accepted the offer, and around a third subsequently applied for the kit Carers who applied for the kit reported significantly more overload and lower life satisfact ion than those who did not apply. Only two-thirds of those mailed the kit (just 23 per cent of the eligible study sample) went on to use it. Those who had not used it reported significantly more negative emotio ns and health problems than those who used it, suggesting that stress and crises could preclude utilisation of the information. A brief eval uation of the components of the kit is presented; however, findings ne ed to be treated with caution in view of the small sample size.