Caring at home
The role of a Carer
Sometimes people do not identify themselves as carers, even when they are filling this role. Most people see themselves as a spouse, a partner, a parent, a child, a sibling, friend or neighbour. If you are providing assistance and care to the person who is our client, then you are a carer… and we recognise that this can be both rewarding and challenging, and that you need support.
How we help you…
From the beginning, our carers are part of our focus. During the admission process, members of our team who have a specific role in caring for carers, make contact so we can talk to you about how we can best support you. You and your family will be given information so you feel empowered to make informed decisions.
Throughout the time our client is on our program, carers can access (at no cost):
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- Counselling in your home or at the Banksia office;
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- Telephone or video counselling, advice, information and support;
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- Carer Education sessions. These provide information as to what you might expect in your caring role, how you can access extra support services, and information about self-care.
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- Assistance with Centrelink, NDIS, My Aged Care, access to council and other community support services.
Carer Support Needs Assessment
This easy and clear assessment tool, is used to help identify areas where you might need additional support. We may use this assessment to adjust our services to meet your individual needs, or you may choose to complete the assessment yourself at any time, so that you can see if there are areas that we may be able to provide you with further support.
Client and Carer Support Team
Our Client and Carer Support Team (CCST) consists of specially trained nurses and care attendants whose role is to support carers to monitor and maintain their own health and well-being. They will assist and support them to continue in the carer role.
They provide individualised information and education to carers in the home, to increase knowledge and confidence, and reduce anxiety related to providing care for their loved one at home.
They will teach:
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- Basic safe manual handling and utilisation of equipment, such as hospital beds and slide sheets.
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- General hygiene support, mostly in the form of bed based care, including bed washes and general hygiene, linen changes, etc. Please note: full hygiene support can only be provided if there is a hospital bed in the home. We do not provide assistance with showering, however we can show carers how to shower a person in the home, if safe to do so.
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- General care of a person who is not moving, including assistance in standing and sitting, pressure care, tips on diet and mouth care.
Respite
We recognise that caring for your loved one can be stressful, and at times you might need to recharge so you can continue to provide care. We will provide respite in the home, so you can attend to other duties or get some much needed rest, knowing that your loved one is in safe hands.
Respite options available in the home include:
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- Our Volunteers who can provide respite for a few hours each week. (Note: this is available for clients who are mobile and mostly able to care for themselves).
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- Our Client and Carer Support Team, who can be booked to come to the home for a set period of time during the day.
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- Overnight nurses (when available). This option requires planning and is generally possible for each client three times, and under very particular circumstances – please ask our team about this option.
Alternatively, we can help organise other respite options, such as temporary accommodation in a hospital or aged care facility (subject to availability). This is generally for a period of 1-2 weeks.
Equipment in the home
From time to time, equipment may assist in the care of our client as their condition changes, eg. a hospital bed, a recliner chair, a shower chair or a walking frame. We are able to provide you with a range of equipment at no cost for a period of six weeks, after which time some hire charges will apply.
Our Occupational Therapist may come to the home to assess equipment needs, if required. Our team will suggest this if they see a need.
We will also help with applications for more specialised equipment, or funding for equipment if needed.
Specific, practical support
Your family will be allocated a Social Worker, who, with sensitivity to cultural, personal and privacy requirements, can assist with a variety of practical and emotional support issues, including:
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- Counselling and emotional support for you and your family.
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- Arranging home help and respite care.
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- Assistance with financial concerns.
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- Navigating Centrelink, My Aged Care, transition to an Aged Care Facility (if needed).
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- Liaison with workplaces or schools.
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- Assisting with Advance Care Directives.
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- Arranging family meetings for optimal communication and transparency.
Preparing the home
There may be a need to change the home environment, and rearrange some rooms when there is someone in the house who is very unwell. As that person’s conditions changes, we may suggest to you that equipment be arranged to ensure everyone’s safety and to help with mobility and the provision of care such as hygiene. We may suggest that a person moves from upstairs to a lower floor for ease, and that furniture be moved from room to room, for example, you may wish to move a recliner or comfortable chair to a central room in the house for the person who needs care, and place furniture, such as chairs or beds for carers, and small tables for meals nearby. A small bell or a baby monitor may give you peace of mind, when you are not nearby. Our team will be able to advise and support you in these decisions.
“I was completely lost when I entered the world of palliative care and would never have been able to cope without your help and guidance. I feel enormous gratitude for everything done for me and my father”.
~ Constantin