Maltreatment could therefore be prevented partly by the timely identification of carersburdened by high stress, anxiety, depression or other such risk factors that could lead to abuse of the care-receiver;by giving the carer the choice of taking up a relevant support service such as respite care, training or psychological and educational programmes; and by giving the carer achoice about whether to provide care at all. This issue is linked to the availability (or lack thereof) of alternative formal care services for older dependents. The available research has documented the association between the provision of care services for older people such as home care and the well-being of informal carers.