Who cares for older carers?
Informal carers save the taxpayer billions of dollars a year. A pilot regional support service is investing in them.
Caring for a loved one can be a tough job. Many older people who do it out of love struggle with loneliness, inequity, and isolation.
It may seem obvious that older carers be given access to opportunities and support systems that prioritise their own health and wellbeing. However, support is infrequent, irregular, and piecemeal.
That has led Monash University’s National Centre for Healthy Ageing (NCHA), to join with Peninsula Health, on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, to develop a pilot support program to fill the gap.
Its aim is to enable better support for people aged 50 and over who provide informal care to people aged 65 and over.
Surprisingly, it is the first service of its kind to focus on older carers, who are liable to neglect themselves so they can keep going and help those they care for remain at home.
The free interdisciplinary service includes a team comprising a social worker, psychologist, occupational therapist, and physiotherapist, who help carers to solve problems and address their own health needs.
Peninsula Health’s director of community and ambulatory services, Iain Edwards, said initial research identified a real gap in available support for carers.
“This service bridges the gap by identifying the particular needs of the carer to enable them to care more effectively,” he said.
“This may be through addressing some of the emotional and psychological impacts that can occur, as the person being cared for might now be quite different.
“Then through occupational therapy and physiotherapy support, we are able to help with the logistics around making caring easier, whilst maintaining the physical health and wellbeing of the carer.”
Ivan Freer, 72, has been a full-time carer for his wife for the past two years. During that period, he has also been in and out of hospital with his own health issues.
Ivan’s wife, who is partially incapacitated, has three fractured vertebrae in her back and relies on a walker to get around.
“She can’t get around very well and she can’t walk very far, and because of this it is up to me to do all of the housework,” Ivan said.
The Carer Health and Wellbeing Service supports Ivan in his role as a carer and ensures he doesn’t neglect his own health.
“The service has helped me a lot, and it is definitely needed. I am able to speak to them about a lot of things and they have sent me in the right direction to get help or get what we need,” Ivan said.
“I’ve got my own health problems, my health is something that I can’t put on the backburner, I have to keep up with it, otherwise things aren’t going to be done at home.
“You can call yourself a carer, but I think most people go into it with no experience, and I would recommend this service to other carers because it is always good to know someone is there for you and that you can ask questions.”
You can watch a video about Ivan here.
Related reading: Monash, Hello Care 1, Hello Care 2
