A PROFILE OF AUSTRALIAN FAMILY CAREGIVERS - DIVERSITY OF ROLES AND CIRCUMSTANCES

Research on family caregiving has been based largely on small samples, often drawn from support organisations or services, and has tended to focus on particular disability groups. Our study was population-based and included all ages and disabilities. As the first stage in a longi tudinal research and health promotion program for informal caregivers, a statewide random survey of over 26 000 households was conducted by telephone: 78 per cent of self-identified carers (N = 976) agreed to p articipate in a one-hour interview. This paper presents a sociodemogra phic profile of Australian caregivers. Four types of relationship betw een carers and care recipients (adult offspring, spouses, parents and other relatives and friends) provide the framework for results. Group differences were observed on most characteristics: for example, age, l iving arrangements, work status and duration of care. Care recipient c haracteristics, including difficult behaviours and need for assistance , are also reported, as well as use of and need for community services . What the findings reflected most was the heterogeneity of both careg ivers and care recipients and the diversity of caregiving roles and ci rcumstances.