Understanding the emotional and practical support needs of family care-partners of Veterans to promote well-being

Abstract

LAY SUMMARY Some family care-partners of Australian Veterans have high levels of distress and feel there is little consideration or acknowledgement of the role they play in supporting Veterans in their day-to-day lives. They also feel limited support is available as a family carer. Family care-partners rarely prioritize their own well-being, leaving them at risk of poor health outcomes. This study extended previous work in South Australia to attempt to understand the physical and mental health status of family care-partners across the country. It sought to identify care-partners’ emotional and practical support needs, determine whether access to supports was available, and discuss the broader impact of the caring role. While fewer care-partners participated than anticipated, the findings suggest that the psychological well-being of family care-partners is impacted by their caring role, and there is a need for accessible supports that are culturally safe, non-judgmental, and promote wellness and early mental health intervention for the care-partner, Veteran, and entire family unit.