Informal carer—relationship to care recipient, code N[N]

Guide for use:

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.

When answering this question the person is asked to complete the sentence, 'The carer is the person's ...'

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.

CODES 1 and 2 Male/Female partner

Include defacto and same sex partnerships.

CODES 3 and 4 Mother/Father

Includes foster parents

CODE 99 Not stated inadequately described

This code should only be recorded where the carer has not been identified. This code is not for use in primary data collections.

Context:

Ageing, carers and disability.

Origin:

Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement National Minimum Data Set (CSTDA NMDS) collection. Data Guide: data items and definitions 2006-07.

Comments:

Information about this relationship assists in the establishment of a profile of informal caring relationships and the assistance provided to maintain and support those relationships. As such it increases knowledge about the dynamics of caring and provides an insight into the gender and inter-generational patterns of informal care giving in the community.