Reducing sleep disruption in carers: A report to the Sleep Health Foundation and Carers Australia

Carers are those who provide unpaid care to one or more people (usually but not always a relative) with a disability, chronic illness, mental health condition, terminal illness, or who are frail aged. The value of support and assistance provided by Australia’s 2.7 million informal or family carers is significant from both an economic and quality of life perspective for care recipients. However, provision of care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week has obvious repercussions for the carer themselves. Sleep disruption is one of the repercussions.

Adequate sleep on a regular basis is critical to both the acute and long-term health and wellbeing of Australians. The Federal Government’s Parliamentary Inquiry into Sleep Health Awareness in Australia (2018-2019) demonstrates that the importance of sleep is recognised at a national level...