Improved patient outcomes through collaborations with carers — Free resource for healthcare professionals
Working with Carers, Family and Kin – A Guide for Healthcare Professionals is a new resource for healthcare professionals, developed by Arafmi, Queensland's peak body and service provider for mental health carers.
The term ‘carer’ refers to people who provide unpaid care and support to their loved ones with disability, mental illness, chronic or terminal conditions, substance abuse, or frailty. Carers are typically family members, friends and kin. Arfami estimates that 2.6 million, or 1 in 8 Australians are carers.
The expertise and unique perspective of carers can help healthcare professionals provide better health outcomes for patients in their care.
The content of the Working with Carers guide has been developed in consultation with healthcare professionals and carers to offer accessible tools and resources that support healthcare professionals in their interactions with carers.
Why collaborating with carers is so important
Carers play an essential role in the treatment of the people they care for. For health professionals, carers can provide valuable information about a patient’s preferences, daily routines and specific care needs.
Usually, carers will have expertise in recognising:
early warning signs of change in your patient’s health
which management strategies have worked in the past
the impact of medication or treatment.
The Working with Carers guide can help both clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to foster a collaborative environment with carers that is built on mutual respect and shared decision-making.
Involving carers in planning and discharge discussions allows for a more holistic approach to health and wellbeing. Additionally, carers can facilitate a smoother transition during the discharge and planning processes as they often provide support and ongoing care for patients beyond clinical settings.