Choosing and Managing Aged Care Services from Afar: What Matters to Australian Long-Distance Care Givers

Kate M. Gunn, Julie Luker, Rama Ramanathan, Xiomara Skrabal Ross, Amanda Hutchinson, Elisabeth Huynh and Ian Olver
Additional contact information
Kate M. Gunn: Department of Rural Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
Julie Luker: Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
Rama Ramanathan: Commission on Excellence and Innovation in Health, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
Xiomara Skrabal Ross: Department of Rural Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
Amanda Hutchinson: Justice and Society, University of South Australia, Magill, SA 5072, Australia
Elisabeth Huynh: Department of Health Services Research & Policy, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
Ian Olver: School of Psychology, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 24, 1-17

Abstract: This research aims to identify the factors that influence caregivers’ decisions about the aged care providers they select for their elder relatives when caring from a distance and what they value once they have engaged a service. Adult long-distance carers for older relatives living within Australia were purposively sampled and they participated in audio-recorded interviews. A thematic analysis was employed to investigate the data. A sample of 13 participants enabled data saturation with no new major themes identified in the final three interviews. Participants were 50 to 65 years (Mean = 59.8) and mostly (77%) female. Four themes emerged relating to selection of care providers: (1) availability of care, (2) financial arrangements, (3) proximity and location, and (4) reputation of care provider. Five themes detailed valued qualities of care: (1) vigilant monitoring and responsivity, (2) communication with family, (3) flexibility and proactiveness of care, (4) staffing, and (5) access to appropriate and holistic care to maintain wellbeing. Long-distance caregivers face barriers in selecting and managing aged care services from afar within a complex Australian aged care system. They strongly value regular, proactive communication about the wellbeing of their relatives and may be particular beneficiaries of communication and assistive monitoring technologies.

Keywords: aging; aged; decision making; health care quality; communication; housing for the elderly; health services for the aged (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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