Assessing the needs of carers in palliative care

Healthcare professionals should assess and address carer needs, independently from the needs of the patient, as a routine part of palliative care. The needs of carers are varied and may change over time, often increasing as a patient’s illness advances, especially if caring for the patient at homeAoun, 2015.

Assessing carers’ needs may be done informally or by using a validated needs assessment tool (see CareSearch for examples). Needs assessment should include consideration of:

• a carer’s ability and capacity to care for the patient
• family coping strategies and whether they are effective
• the mental and physical wellbeing of the carer
• the need for information and emotional or practical support.

Family meetings can provide a good opportunity to assess carers’ needs.