Assisting elderly people with medication--the role of home carers

In 1991, home carers in Derbyshire were asked to participate in a questionnaire survey in order to estimate the demand for home carers to assist elderly clients with specific medication tasks. The results indicate that 17% of regular clients require assistance with medication, and that 86% of home carers are expected to assist with at least one medication task. Home care aides received considerably more requests than home helps to assist with such tasks. The findings are discussed in relation to the way home carers perceive 'personal care'. The type of personal care tasks that home carers are expected to perform should be more clearly defined, and the findings highlight the importance of providing pharmaceutical advice and training to home carers.