Caring for a family member or friend can be rewarding, but at the same time, it can be all consuming. More often than not, if a family carer has no support, it can quickly lead to stress, fatigue, declining health and burnout, which is why taking regular breaks from your caring responsibilities is so important to help maintain your own mental health and overall wellbeing. To ensure your caring role is sustainable long term, it is vital you seek help, without feeling guilty in doing so, and know that it is okay. At Home Care Assistance, our Care Workers are both encouraged and supported to prioritise their wellbeing, but without the backing of a home care agency you might need a little reminder about the support and services available to you when you are providing in-home care services or palliative care at home for a loved one.
With over 2.65 million unpaid family or friend carers across Australia 1 it is hard to believe that many families are providing more than 40 hours a week of care for their loved one. Providing in-home care services to a loved one is an act of love, but in practical terms it can involve a myriad of daily living tasks such as dressing, mobility support, showering, toileting, feeding, transport, management of medications, life administration, not to mention emotional, financial and social support. The Australian government has recognised that without continuing support by family and friend carers of people ageing in place, the aged care system and in-home care services could be overwhelmed.
Taking care of a loved one and having that responsibility fall squarely on one pair of shoulders, simply isn’t sustainable. You will find that many people who are in carer positions, are usually selfless and tend to put the needs of others first. This is where respite in aged care plays such a vital role and here’s how.
What is respite and why is it important?
Respite care is a great solution that allows caregivers to free up some time for themselves whilst their loved one is cared for by a trustworthy and experienced professional. There are both short-term care options, such as arranging care for a few hours, to longer term options such as a temporary stay at a care home whilst the caregiver is away on holiday. At Home Care Assistance, we are here to help families in need of caring for elderly family members who require more support than they are physically and mentally able to give. We offer a number of care service packages 2 and have highly experienced Care Workers who are thoroughly trained in Alzheimer’s and dementia care, post-hospitalisation care, healthy cooking techniques, and more – personally committed to the individuals and families they serve.
Home Care Assistance offers a robust roster of Care Workers with diverse experience, skills, personalities and credentials. We are able to expertly match the right Care Worker to each person’s unique needs and preferences, and manage our Care Workers employment insurance, taxes and workers’ compensation, so you don’t have to.
That said, not all families have the support of in-home care, which is why Carer Gateway 3 exists, and is your one-stop shop for emotional, practical and financial support, as you care for your loved one. Provision of the Carer Gateway recognises the need to support the wellbeing of carers and enables family and friend carer roles to be sustainable, offering a range of free services and support exclusively for carers.
The Carer Gateway offers great support and is readily available to anyone, to help ease the burden in your role as an in-home carer for your loved ones. If you’re feeling isolated or disempowered, know that these supports and services can help. You don’t need to be receiving a government carer payment to make use of Carer Gateway, services are offered Australian-wide and can be accessed in-person, online and over the phone. Accessing the Carer Gateway is easy, simply give them a call directly on 1800 422 737 or check them out online.
Support of an in-home care agency like Home Care Assistance, can bring enormous benefit and comfort to your quality of life while living independently at home. Home Care Assistance has viable solutions when it comes to supporting independent living. For more information, get in touch with a Home Care Assistance near me today.
