This data element should always be used to record the relationship of the carer to the person for whom they care, regardless of whether the client of the agency is the carer or the person for whom they care.
For example, if a woman were caring for her frail aged mother-in-law, the agency would record that the carer is the daughter-in-law of the care recipient (i.e. code 4). Similarly, if a man were caring for his disabled son, then the agency would record that the carer is the father of the care recipient (i.e. code 2).
If a person has more than one carer (e.g. a spouse and a son), the coding response to relationship of carer to care recipient should relate to the carer who provides the most significant care and assistance related to the person's capacity to remain living at home. The expressed views of the client and/ or their carer or significant other should be used as the basis for determining which carer should be considered to be the primary or principal carer in this regard.
CODE 1 includes de facto and same sex partnerships.
Collection methods:
To obtain greater detailed information about carers data can be collected using other elements such as Person—age (community services), total years N[NN] and Person—sex, code N etc.
Comments:
There is inconsistency between the definition of informal carer with the ABS definition of principal carer.
The ABS defines a primary carer as a person of any age who provides the most informal assistance, in terms of help or supervision, to a person with one or more disabilities. The assistance has to be ongoing, or likely to be ongoing, for at least six months and be provided for one or more of the core activities (communication, mobility and self care). This may not be appropriate for community services agencies wishing to obtain information about a person's carer regardless of the amount of time that care is for, or the types of care provided.
Source and reference attributes
Submitting organisation:
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Origin:
Home and Community Care (HACC) Data Dictionary Version 1.0, 1998
