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Caring for the needs of carers
1 April 2008
According to Carers Australia, an estimated one in eight Australians (2.6 million people) in 2005 were caring for someone who needed assistance. It is believed that these carers provided a total of 1.2 billion hours of care.
These alarming figures have prompted Hunter New England Health to run a series of morning tea sessions to provide education and training to carers in the Tenterfield area.
Carers Australia define ‘carers’ as usually family members or friends who provide support to children or adults who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition or who are frail aged.
Carers can also be neighbours or volunteers and can come from all walks of life, cultural backgrounds and age groups.
Some carers are eligible for government benefits while others are employed or have a private income.
Whilst caring for somebody with a disability or a chronic illness can be very rewarding, it can also be extremely stressful and even exhausting.
For this reason, Tenterfield Health Service social worker Louise Morley, said it is important that carers don’t neglect themselves while caring for someone else.
"This can be extremely difficult as balancing your needs with the needs of another is no easy task," she said.
The aim of the information sessions is to provide people with information about the support services available in the area, stress management, safe lifting and end of life legal issues. Open discussion on the issues will also be facilitated.
The morning is being organised and presented by a range of qualified people from Hunter New England Health and Commonwealth Carer’s Respite.
The first morning will be Monday 21 April at the Tenterfield Shire Council Chambers from 9.30am – 12.00noon with another session on Monday 28 April at the same venue.
Please contact Community Nurse, Jenny Smith or Social Worker, Louise Morley on 6739 5200 for further information and to RSVP.
Contact: Kay Cope
Phone: 6776 9817
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