The quality of life of older carers and the people they support: an international scoping review

Older carers, aged 65 or over, may find it difficult to balance caring whilst maintaining their own health and quality of life (QoL). For older carers, especially, established approaches to separately identifying, assessing and addressing carers’ and care-recipients’ needs, may not fully consider the interwoven nature of caregiving relationships and the ways in which community-based social care services may impact the QoL of both parties. The purpose of this scoping review is to identify and synthesise what is already known about the QoL of older carers and care-recipients, considered together, which we refer to as ‘dyadic QoL’; both in general, and with regard to the impact of community-based social care. We searched 16 electronic databases and grey literature in October and November 2020. A total 822 items were identified and reviewed based on the inclusion criteria: focusing on older carers and care-recipients from a dyadic perspective and their QoL or wellbeing, published since 2000 and in English. Fourteen papers were thematically analysed, and the findings were presented under two themes. First, the value of applying an overarching conceptual framework of ‘interdependence theory’ in understanding dyadic QoL, including two broad approaches: dyadic data analysis and the dynamics of caring relationships. Second, a number of papers highlighted the role of support from family, friends and neighbours and community-based social care services in promoting QoL outcomes of caring dyads. This review emphasised that considering the QoL of carers and care-recipients, together, would potentially improve the understanding of care needs, provision of care services and QoL outcomes. However, there is limited and fragmentary evidence about dyadic QoL or the impact of social care services on dyadic QoL outcomes. Future work is required to explore and evaluate the use of a dyadic approach in social care practice and research.