An evaluation of health and well‐being checks for unpaid carers

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of providing health and well‐being checks and six months support to unpaid carers. Changes in carer stress will be measured between baseline and final assessment. 

Design/methodology/approach – This is a cross‐sectional, correlational study of the 394 carers recruited and the sub‐group of 348 carers who received support for six months. A T‐test measured change in the carers’ GHQ‐12 scores between baseline and final assessment. A chi‐squared test was used to measure movement in the GHQ‐12 scoring quartiles between baseline and final assessment.

Findings– The 348 carers receiving support for six months reported a statistically significant small reduction in their baseline and final assessment scores. The carers identified by the GHQ as having less severe stress scores did better than those with more severe stress levels.

Research limitations/implications– As there was no control group, it was not possible to compare the outcomes of the intervention group with the outcomes of a group of carers receiving care as usual. It is therefore possible that there may be some other factors at play for the intervention group over the six‐month period of support, other than the intervention itself, which have influenced the change in carer stress.

Social implications– Financial pressures on health and social care budgets can lead to carers’ support services being under‐resourced in some areas. However, the draft Care and Support Bill (July 2012) and the introduction of new mandatory duties may help to ensure that local authorities and health and wellbeing boards meet their obligations to provide services for carers.

Originality/value– There is limited research available on the outcomes of carers’ interventions, particularly those which involve holistic interventions, such as health and well‐being checks being delivered by a multi‐agency partnership.