Chronically-ill children with prolonged high home care and medical needs, and who are dependent on life-sustaining medical equipment, require constant care from caregivers. This imposes severe physical, financial, emotional and social strains on family members and caregivers. Many of these caregivers are at significant risk of clinical depression. Practical help and mental health support are needed for this group of highly stressed families.

The goals of the Caregiver Support Programme were to:
- Help caregivers who are at risk of depression by providing early mental health intervention
- Train a network of nurses to offer respite care services
- Provide caregiver respite and support

Nurses were also trained to provide such specialised respite care for these highly stressed families.