Research report, no. 16, 2008
The nature and impact of caring for family members with a disability in Australia
Lists of tables and figures
List of tables
Table 2.1 Major changes to Carer Payment legislation and policy, 1983-2006
Table 2.2 Major changes to Carer Allowance legislation and policy, 1974-2006
Table 3.1 Reasons for refusal to participate in the study
Table 3.2 Characteristics of survey respondents and total population receiving Carer Allowance or Carer Payment
Table 4.1 The demographic characteristics of carers
Table 4.2 Demographic characteristics of the people with a disability
Table 4.3 Demographic characteristics of other family members in the household
Table 4.4 Use of services by people with a disability, their carer and other family members
Table 4.5 Hours of respite per month
Table 5.1 Dimensions of family functioning and the impact of caring for a person with a disability
Table 6.1 Assistance provided by household members, by relationship to carer
Table 6.2 Sources of supporters, by gender of primary carer
Table 6.3 Timing of first period of significantly increased arguments in still-partnered and separated carers (since they started caring)
Table 9.1 Family members who have experienced depression for 6 months or more since the carer started caring
Table 11.1 Labour force status of female carers, by payment type
Table 11.2 Detailed labour force status for female carers not in the labour force, by payment type
Table 11.3 Female carers employment status since commencing caring, by type of payment
Table 11.4 Employment history since commencing caring of currently non-employed female carers, by type of payment
Table 11.5 Changes to employment made as a consequence of caring responsibilities by female carers, by type of payment
Table 11.6 Main barriers to employment identified by female carers who were not in the labour force but would like to work, by payment type
Table 11.7 Proportion of female carers living in households in which no adult is employed, by type of payment
Table A.1 Databases search strategy
List of figures
Figure 2.1 Number of recipients of Carer Payment and Carer Allowance, 1999-2000 to 2006-07
Figure 2.2 Expenditure on Carer Payment and Carer Allowance, 1999-2000 to 2006-07
Figure 3.1 The FCPDS computer-assisted telephone (CATI) interview process and results
Figure 4.1 Age of female and male carers surveyed
Figure 4.2 Equivalised household weekly income for carers' households, by payment type
Figure 4.3 Financial hardships in carers' families, by type of hardship and caring responsibilities
Figure 6.1 People with a disability receiving support from others in addition to the primary carer, by type of support and number of supporters
Figure 6.2 Carers receiving support from others, by type of support and number of supporters
Figure 6.3 Support needs of carers, by estimates from ABS 2003 SDAC and 2006 FCPDS
Figure 6.4 Disagreements about caring for the person with a disability, by number of supporters
Figure 6.5 Support provided to the carer and person with a disability, by level of cooperation
Figure 6.6 Support people to the carer from outside the household
Figure 6.7 Total number of supporters for the carer and person with a disability
Figure 6.8 Number of supporters, by carers' gender
Figure 6.9 Satisfaction with relationship with and between family members, by relationship and caring status
Figure 6.10 Family functioning of carers, by statements of family functioning and level of agreement
Figure 6.11 Families with problems of family functioning, by type of disability and number of problems
Figure 6.12 Families with problems of family functioning, by level of care needs and number of problems
Figure 6.13 Relationship separation of female carers, by age group
Figure 6.14 Likelihood of relationship separation, by years since started caring
Figure 6.15 Intact partner relationships of carers not caring for a partner, by years since starting caring
Figure 6.16 Reports by carers not caring for a partner of significant increase in arguments, by years since starting caring
Figure 6.17 Reports by carers not caring for a partner of no significant increase in arguments, by years since starting caring
Figure 7.1 Carer's reports of emotional and physical effects of caring
Figure 8.1 Average levels of mental health and vitality, by caring status
Figure 8.2 Average levels of mental health, by gender and caring status
Figure 8.3 Clinical levels of depression over last 4 weeks, by gender and caring status
Figure 8.4 Comparison of depression of carers with prevalence rates among the general population, by gender
Figure 8.5 Reports of carers' first depressive episode, by years since starting caring
Figure 8.6 Mental health of females, by age and caring status
Figure 8.7 Vitality of females, by age and caring status
Figure 8.8 Incidence of depression in the past 4 weeks for females, by age and caring status
Figure 8.9 Mental health and vitality of carers, by whether they care for a child
Figure 8.10 Incidence of carers' depression, by whether they care for a child
Figure 8.11 Carers' mental health and vitality, by care needs
Figure 8.12 Carers' depression, by care needs
Figure 8.13 Mental health and vitality of carers, by number of people cared for
Figure 8.14 Incidence of carers' depression, by number of people cared for
Figure 8.15 Carers' mental health and vitality, by additional care roles
Figure 8.16 Carers' depression, by additional care roles
Figure 8.17 Carers' mental health and vitality, by number of problems in family functioning
Figure 8.18 Carers' depression, by number of problems in family functioning
Figure 8.19 Carers' mental health, by type of support and number of people providing support
Figure 8.20 Carers' vitality, by type of support and number of people providing support
Figure 8.21 Carers' depression, by type of support and number of people providing support
Figure 8.22 Carers mental health and vitality, by level of need for support
Figure 8.23 Carers' depression, by level need for support
Figure 8.24 Carers' depression, by number of household members with depression
Figure 9.1 Family members' experience of depression
Figure 9.2 Carers' partners' experience of depression, by disability status and gender
Figure 9.3 Carers' offsprings' experience of depression, by disability status and gender
Figure 9.4 Carers' parents' experience of depression, by disability status and gender
Figure 9.5 Reports of first depressive episodes for family members with and without a disabling condition, by years since started caring
Figure 9.6 Carers' partners' experience of depression, by partners' age and disability status
Figure 9.7 Carers' offsprings' experience of depression, by age and disability status
Figure 9.8 Family members' experience of depression, by disability status and whether carer was depressed in the last 4 weeks
Figure 9.9 Family members' experience of depression, by disability status and whether carer has been depressed for 6 months since starting caring
Figure 9.10 Family members' experience of depression and family functioning problems, by disability status and number of problems
Figure 10.1 Level of physical health, by caring status
Figure 10.2 Incidence of poor physical health, by gender and caring status
Figure 10.3 Incidence of poor physical health, by age and caring status
Figure 10.4 Incidence of poor physical health of carers, by care needs
Figure 10.5 Incidence of poor physical health of carers, by number of people with a disability cared for
Figure 10.6 Incidence of poor physical health of carers, by perceptions of support needed
Figure 10.7 Incidence of poor physical health of carers, by number of family functioning problems