The Caring Role is One of the Hardest
Not only do we give so much of our time, energy, and love, but as the carer, we also see the changes in our loved ones. Seeing children grow and become stronger and independent has its own challenges, but for those who are caring for older persons, someone afflicted with a life-limiting or compromising condition, or mental health changes, it is extremely challenging to see the deterioration literally before our eyes.
Fortunately, there is greater recognition of the carer's needs for support, understanding, education, and awareness about the person's condition.
We also know how essential it is for carers to have time out, be heard, debrief, have their experiences, concerns, grief and exhaustion acknowledged, and be directly supported. Without our carers actively caring, progress and outcomes become a very different story.
Carers
Who Are Carers?
Carers are people who provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness, an alcohol or other drug issue or who are frail aged. Carers are an integral part of Australia’s health system and are the foundation of our aged, disability, palliative and community care systems.
What Does A Carer Do?
Caring may include help and support with any of the daily activities of living of the person being cared for. It may include physical and personal care such as dressing, lifting, showering, toileting, feeding or providing transport. Commonly, carers are responsible for managing medications and providing emotional and social support. Caring may also involve help with organising and attending appointments, banking and dealing with emergencies.
National Agency to Guide and Support Carers.
Carers Australia
Works to improve the health, well-being, resilience and financial security of carers and to ensure that caring is a responsibility that’s shared by family, community and government. We also aim to raise greater awareness among carers and deliver initiatives to meet their needs.
National Advocacy
Carers Australia advocates and lobbies on a wide range of issues affecting carers to influence national policies and services.
We also work collaboratively with other organisations, including our network of state & territory carer organisations, to develop policies, programs, services, and events to improve the lives of Australia’s carers – supporting them, and upholding their rights.
Policy Positions
Carers Australia believes all carers, regardless of their cultural and linguistic differences, age, disability, religion, socioeconomic status, gender identification and geographical location, should have the same rights, choices and opportunities as other Australians.
We develop our policies based on research and in consultation with carers to ensure they remain effective and up to date. Where possible, we commission our own research and partner with universities and other leading research bodies.
The Australian Government has introduced a Carer Gateway website and call centre as an entry point for carers to access practical information and advice, online supports, and services in their local area.
The new nationwide network of Carer Gateway service providers delivers a range of support services to unpaid carers, such as:
- In-person and phone-based counselling
- Online self-guided coaching
- Emergency and planned respite
- In-person and online peer support
- Online skills courses
- Financial packages focused on employment, education, respite and transport
It also provides information, practical advice, and resources on a range of topics, including:
- Information on the types of care and stages of caring
- Advice on how to look after yourself while caring for someone
- Information on respite care
- Managing day-to-day care
- Legal and financial support considerations
- What to do in an emergency or crisis situation
- Help on combining caring with work or study
- Assistance with navigating local services, including the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), My Aged Care, and palliative care.
Caring is a journey. We have developed five pathways that are commonly experienced over time when caring for someone approaching the end of life. In each of these pathways, you will find relevant resources, tools and information to help you. Carers can go through these pathways in different ways.
Some may switch between pathways. They might spend a long time in one pathway, but a very short time in another. The important thing is being able to access useful information and resources when they are needed. You can explore these pathways in any way that suits you.
There are five pathways to explore when caring for someone approaching the end of life. You will find relevant resources, tools and information to help you.
Getting Help to Do the Doing
How to Care
Caring for someone with palliative care needs can be overwhelming and stressful. Access to information you can trust is important. In the following, we list several resources that you might find helpful.
Carer Skills Course
Carer's Gateway offers a series of educational topics to help you understand your role and rights, and the skills needed for yourself and to grow into the caring role.
You can access this resource on their website.
Counselling For Carers
If you feel stressed, sad or frustrated, it may help to speak with a counsellor to discuss your situation. They can provide strategies to help you work through your emotions.
Carer Gateway provides free counselling to carers. There are three types of counselling options available:
Carer Resources
Carers can have different needs and different people providing them with care and support. These resources have been developed by or reviewed by the CarerHelp team.
Support Groups
The following contacts are either for the support groups themselves or for the organisations that can help you to access support.
There are many support groups available for carers. Each state and territory association will offer some form of support.
Caring in all its forms is one of the hardest roles we have. Watching others struggle, suffer, and not being able to magically remove the source of the trouble is difficult. Carer Gateway supports the Carer in various ways, but essentially:
Connecting carers to local support services.
A carer is anyone who looks after a family member or friend who has a disability, mental health condition, chronic health condition, terminal illness, or is frail aged. Carers provide tasks such as emotional support, personal care, and medication administration.
Carer Gateway services are free to access and offer carers of all ages the chance to connect with others, a place to talk one-on-one with a counsellor, coaching to help set positive goals, access to practical information and advice, and emergency respite care.
Carers can register for Carer Gateway by calling 1800 422 737 or www.wellways.org/our-services/carer-gateway/carer-gateway-registration/
Wellways Australia provides Carer Gateway services throughout Queensland.
Respite Care
Respite care is there to support you and your carer for short periods of time. It gives you both a break and can also give you the chance to meet new people.
The type of respite care depends on your situation. It can be available for a few hours, a few days, or a few weeks. It can be provided in your home, the community or an aged care home.
Respite care is often planned in advance – for instance, if your carer is planning a trip or has an appointment. However, it is also available in emergencies or unexpected situations.
If you need emergency respite care, please call Carer Gateway.
Respite care at home
Respite at home is available during the day or overnight. It can be provided in your home and is also called flexible respite. It usually involves a paid carer coming to your home so that your usual carer can take a short break.
Community and centre-based respite
Community and centre-based respite is available during the day. It gives you the opportunity to talk and interact with other people. It usually takes place at a day centre, club or community spaces in an aged care home.
Day respite often runs from 10am to 3pm and may include transport to and from the centre.
Cottage respite
Cottage respite is available overnight or over a weekend. It takes place in a centre or another community location, rather than in the carer's or host family's home. It can be taken for 2 to 3 days at a time.
Residential respite
Residential respite care takes place in an aged care home. It is best suited to people who need carer support for most tasks. It can be for a few weeks at a time.
You need an assessment to determine your eligibility for residential respite. However, if you haven’t had an assessment, in an emergency, you may be able to access residential respite care in an aged care home. In these cases, your provider can arrange an urgent assessment for you.