Table 1.

Review objective

Objective/ aim	To identify the preferences, needs, and wishes of informal caregivers regarding the organization of care for a care-dependent elderly relative.
Inclusion criteria	Only articles which directly state (explore) the needs/wishes/preferences of informal caregivers regarding the outpatient care of the elderly; articles were not restricted to a special methodology or according to the year of publication.
Exclusion criteria.	Studies focusing on illness-related care (care due to cancer, stroke, etc.; hospital discharge, terminally ill individuals); specific interventions (e.g., prostheses); preferences regarding nutrition, inpatient care, end-of-life care, and palliative care; and post-care studies as well as those focusing only on the quantitative assessment of needs or unmet needs (e.g., in activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living) were excluded. Studies focusing on specific types of illness, end-of-life care and palliative care were excluded due to the special care needs for medical and nursing interventions as these are different from elderly care in general.
Outcomes.	Need for information and support, preferences regarding organization of care (e.g., home care or institutional care).