Social welfare needs of bereaved Australian carers: implications of insights from palliative care and welfare workers

Bindley, K; Lewis, J; Travaglia, J; DiGiacomo, M

Social welfare needs of bereaved Australian carers: implications of insights from palliative care and welfare workers

Bindley, K Lewis, J

Travaglia, J

DiGiacomo, M

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Publisher:: Wiley
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Health and Social Care in the Community, 2021, 29, (3), pp. 631-642
Issue Date:: 2021-05-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Bindley, K
dc.contributor.author	Lewis, J https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8668-712X
dc.contributor.author	Travaglia, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7537-0466
dc.contributor.author	DiGiacomo, M https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5484-8224
dc.date.accessioned	2021-12-03T03:45:04Z
dc.date.available	2021-02-11
dc.date.available	2021-12-03T03:45:04Z
dc.date.issued	2021-05-01
dc.identifier.citation	Health and Social Care in the Community, 2021, 29, (3), pp. 631-642
dc.identifier.issn	0966-0410
dc.identifier.issn	1365-2524
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/152057
dc.description.abstract	An individual and psychological emphasis has influenced practice and research on bereavement following informal care provision in the context of life-limiting illness. Consideration of the potential for bereavement to be shaped by intersecting social and structural inequities is needed; and should include an understanding of interactions with government institutions and social policy. This qualitative study employed interpretive description to explore the way in which palliative care workers and welfare sector workers perceive and approach experiences and needs of bereaved carers receiving government income support or housing assistance in [Region], an area associated with recognised socioeconomic disadvantage. A total of 21 palliative care workers within public health service and welfare workers from two government social welfare services participated in in-depth interviews. Data were analysed using framework analysis. Participants highlighted social welfare policy and related interactions that may impact bereavement, potentially related to financial, housing and employment precariousness. Personal, interpersonal and structural factors perceived to shape the navigation of welfare needs were explored, alongside needed professional and structural changes envisioned by workers. With limited forms of capital, vulnerably positioned carers may encounter difficulties that heighten their precariousness in bereavement. Transactional organisational cultures alongside health and welfare agencies that function in a siloed manner appear to contribute to structural burden for carers, following death due to life-limiting illness. Palliative care and welfare workers also associated elements of their work with bereaved carers with their own experiences of helplessness, frustration and distress. Findings point to a need for the development of interagency strategies in addition to policy underpinned by more nuanced understandings of vulnerability in bereavement, post-caring.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Wiley
dc.relation.ispartof	Health and Social Care in the Community
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1111/hsc.13339
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1117 Public Health and Health Services, 1607 Social Work
dc.subject.classification	Nursing
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Bereavement
dc.subject.mesh	Caregivers
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Palliative Care
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Social Support
dc.subject.mesh	Social Welfare
dc.title	Social welfare needs of bereaved Australian carers: implications of insights from palliative care and welfare workers
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	29
utslib.location.activity	Australia
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
utslib.for	1607 Social Work
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/IMPACCT
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	true
dc.date.updated	2021-12-03T03:45:03Z
pubs.issue	3
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	29
utslib.citation.issue	3

Abstract:

An individual and psychological emphasis has influenced practice and research on bereavement following informal care provision in the context of life-limiting illness. Consideration of the potential for bereavement to be shaped by intersecting social and structural inequities is needed; and should include an understanding of interactions with government institutions and social policy. This qualitative study employed interpretive description to explore the way in which palliative care workers and welfare sector workers perceive and approach experiences and needs of bereaved carers receiving government income support or housing assistance in [Region], an area associated with recognised socioeconomic disadvantage. A total of 21 palliative care workers within public health service and welfare workers from two government social welfare services participated in in-depth interviews. Data were analysed using framework analysis. Participants highlighted social welfare policy and related interactions that may impact bereavement, potentially related to financial, housing and employment precariousness. Personal, interpersonal and structural factors perceived to shape the navigation of welfare needs were explored, alongside needed professional and structural changes envisioned by workers. With limited forms of capital, vulnerably positioned carers may encounter difficulties that heighten their precariousness in bereavement. Transactional organisational cultures alongside health and welfare agencies that function in a siloed manner appear to contribute to structural burden for carers, following death due to life-limiting illness. Palliative care and welfare workers also associated elements of their work with bereaved carers with their own experiences of helplessness, frustration and distress. Findings point to a need for the development of interagency strategies in addition to policy underpinned by more nuanced understandings of vulnerability in bereavement, post-caring.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/152057