Factors contributing to the mental health outcomes of carers during the transition of their family member to residential aged care: a systematic search and narrative review

Vera Camões-Costa; Jayasree Loganathan; Chris Barton; Samantha Chakraborty; Alana Hewitt; Xiaoping Lin; Bianca Brijnath

doi:10.1186/s12877-022-03105-4

Factors contributing to the mental health outcomes of carers during the transition of their family member to residential aged care: a systematic search and narrative review

BMC Geriatr. 2022 May 17;22(1):433. doi: 10.1186/s12877-022-03105-4.

Authors

Vera Camões-Costa¹, Jayasree Loganathan², Chris Barton², Samantha Chakraborty², Alana Hewitt³, Xiaoping Lin⁴, Bianca Brijnath^{2

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Affiliations

¹ Department of General Practice, Monash University, Building 1, 270 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill, VIC, 3168, Australia. vera.costa@monash.edu.
² Department of General Practice, Monash University, Building 1, 270 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill, VIC, 3168, Australia.
³ Department of Occupational Therapy, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia.
⁴ Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁵ National Ageing Research Institute Ltd, Parkville, Australia.
⁶ School of Occupational Therapy, Social Work and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.

Abstract

Objectives: The transition of an older family member into a residential aged care facility (RACF) is often challenging for both the person being admitted and their family carer. This review aimed to identify the protective and contributing factors to adverse mental health outcomes among family carers following the decision to move a family member to a RACF.

Method: A search of CINAHL, PubMed and PsycINFO was conducted for empirical papers published in English between 2004 and 2019, exploring the mental health or quality of life (QoL) of family carers of those recently admitted, or considering admission, to a RACF. Articles were reviewed by two authors for inclusion.

Results: Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria. Pre-existing depressive symptoms and poor subjective health were related to adverse mental health outcomes following admission. Information from the facility, support to change roles, and factors related to carer's health and demographics, were associated with changes in the mental health outcomes of carers during the transition of their relative to a RACF. Key protective factors of carer's mental health outcomes following the transition of their relative to a RACF are flow and transparency of information between carer and the facility staff, and staff efforts to involve carers in providing emotional support to their relative, in monitoring care, and advocating for their quality of life.

Conclusion: There is evidence to suggest factors such lack of flow and transparency of information between carer and the facility staff may predispose carers to poor mental health and QoL following the transition of a relative to a RACF. Key protective factors of carer's mental health following admission are staff efforts to involve carers in providing emotional support to their relative, in monitoring care, and advocating for their quality of life. This review also indicates that the combination of factors that puts family carers more at risk of poor mental health and lower quality of life throughout the transition period. Policy and practice should follow recommendations that consider a combination of the above factors when addressing the needs of family carers before and after admission of an older person to RACF.

Keywords: Family carers; Long-term care; Mental well-being; Nursing homes; Residential aged care; Review, risk factors.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Caregivers* / psychology
Family / psychology
Humans
Outcome Assessment, Health Care
Quality of Life*
Residential Facilities