Who Cares For The Caregivers?
About 2.7 million people in Australia provide ongoing care to loved ones. Most people who provide ongoing care don’t see themselves as carers.
Many will spend a significant part of their lives caring for a partner, parent, child, friend, or family member who is aging, living with disability, mental health concerns, or long-term illness. Caring for a loved one can be a stressful and isolating experience.
Taking care of your own needs can help protect you from being overwhelmed which directly impacts your ability to provide care. If you are caring for someone, there are services available to support you and the person you care for.
Respite Care
Sometimes you need to take a break from taking care of another so you can rest and recharge. Respite care services are programs that let someone else take care of your loved one so that you can have a break. Respite care is designed to support you for short periods of time to give you a break and allow you to meet new people or experience new things.
Respite care is often planned in advance. If you are planning a trip or a vacation, you can arrange to schedule for care in advance.
Emergency respite care is also available in certain situations. An unexpected death or illness may cause you to seek respite care for your loved one. An urgent situation can arise that makes it difficult for you to look after someone for a period of time.
Help At Home
In some situations, a loved one is able to remain in their home. Many people, as they age, don’t need full-time care but need assistance with some of their activities of daily living. For instance, they can take care of themselves but are no longer able to drive. Getting help going to the market and shopping allows your loved one to maintain their independence and stay in their home.
Other situations might involve more comprehensive assistance. Assistance with bathing, dressing, and even getting in and out of bed may be required. Dealing with medications, cooking, cleaning and even social interactions are all services that are available.
If you are caring for elderly parents, getting assistance for them with in-home services reduces your time commitment and stress levels.
Care Homes
There may come a time when you are no longer able to keep up with the demands of caregiving. In those instances, MyAgedCare Australia funds a range of aged care homes across Australia. These facilities are for older people who can no longer live at home and need ongoing help with everyday tasks or health care.
It’s never an easy decision, but an aged care home can provide your loved one with the care and services they need to maintain a high quality of life. You can still visit and interact with them on a regular basis, but it lifts the burden of constantly worrying about your loved ones.
These facilities typically provide accommodation, hotel-type services, and personal and clinical care.
Most will offer individual rooms designed for singles or couples, meals, and lifestyle programs to keep residents active and engaged.
