Caring for the Carers

Caring for the Carers

by Stephanie Buckland | CEO | Amana Living

Are you caring for your husband or wife, mum or dad? You’re not alone.

There are around 320,000 Western Australians providing unpaid care and support to a family member or friend. Of those carers, more than 10% are people aged 65 and over.

Being a carer can be incredibly rewarding but it is also tough. Many people juggle their caring role with work and other responsibilities, plus looking after children or grandchildren. This balancing act can take a huge toll, emotionally, physically and financially, leaving many carers struggling.

Yet people are sometimes reluctant to seek support, feeling guilty and believing they should be able to cope. Whereas seeking help early can make a huge difference to the mental and physical health of both the people being cared for and the carer.

If you’re starting to feel overwhelmed, respite is an option to explore. For the over 65s, day centres offer a social program for people requiring care. These day centres cater for people of all backgrounds and abilities, providing an opportunity to socialise with others while doing the things they love. Activities are designed to reflect the interests of the clients and can include the likes of gardening, cooking, relaxing or going on outings.

Day centres provide carers with an opportunity to recharge or to pursue their own interests, while knowing their loved one is in a supportive and safe environment. Day centres are designed to be homely and they are run by highly skilled professionals.

Amana Living has six day centres across Perth with three of these offering respite for people living with dementia. We also cater to cultural groups for Vietnamese and Italian clients with a large number of clients that like socialising and participating on outings in the community.

Anyone can become a carer at any time and there will be an even greater demand for carers in the future. With a greater emphasis on community care and ageing in place by both Federal and State Governments, more people will be cared for in their own home.

It’s important to recognise the role of carers and to encourage the carers in our lives to seek support. We can help by providing advice on the respite options available and how to access it. Contact Amana Living on 1300 26 26 26 to speak to our team.

Published in Messenger, October 2019