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Talking Point: Carers need and deserve to have a break

Feb 26, 2024

Looking after an aged or disabled family member can take a toll, but there is respite help available, writes Community Based Support CEO Allyson Warrington

Across Tasmania, family members are called on to care for their loved ones, sometimes in a full-time capacity.

Carers can be looking after family members living with disability or older parents and siblings.

Being a carer, whether it be full or part-time, is an incredible responsibility – but it can also be stressful for both the carer and the person being cared for.

Which is why respite is such an important part of the journey together – the ability for both parties to have some time apart, to get away from the daily routines of care, which can sometimes become a daily grind for all involved.

At Community Based Support, we provide support to individuals and couples, both in the aged-care and disability sectors.

For those of us working in these sectors there is no such break during Christmas and New Year. Our people, our clients, are reliant on the services we provide so that they can live their lives independently and safely. Our support staff and administrative coordinators are also still hard at it.

As a sector, Community Based Support is well aware of sector burnout and turnover in our staff cohort. This is the trying reality, because the stakes are so high and the work is demanding.

But when you are doing it on your own – or in concert with your brother or sister – caring for your ageing mum or dad can be exhausting.

As the end of summer approaches, many of us who don’t have carers’ duties are exhausted. It’s difficult to fathom just how tired carers must be feeling.

We work closely with the primary carers of our clients and know that they put their own well-being last.

In fact, sometimes they are just too tired to make the effort to find time for themselves.

Our respite accommodation at Kingston is utilised by people living with disability to provide much- needed respite for their carers. It’s readily open and available for aged-care clients. Many clients access the respite accommodation when modifications are being made to their homes or when their carers are taking a much-needed break.

Our daytime respite provides structure and simulation for both types of clients and allows carers to get to work and get about their daily life.

Our respite accommodation is also available to all members of the public – your loved one doesn’t have to be our client.

Our approach to care is a holistic one that, while not funded, is inclusive of the primary carers of our clients.

In 2024, we will continue to support our clients and their families while advocating for funding that enables support and respite for carers and clients alike.

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