Carers
A carer is someone who gives up their time to help another person who is unable to care completely for him or herself. A carer can be a family member, a friend and/or neighbour. The person who takes the main responsibility is called a primary carer.
When you are providing care and support for someone receiving palliative care, you are often increasing their opportunities to live life to the fullest even though their future is uncertain. People living with a terminal illness who have a carer often spend less time in hospital than someone who does not have a carer.
Supporting the primary carer
Please refer to useful resources and links for Carers. Often, especially if a primary carer is emotionally distressed or providing a lot of care, they will not look around for resources to help them. Tell the primary carer about the resources or look at them yourself so that you have information to give the carer when it is needed.
Combining a busy life with care giving
Many people who have cared for a relative/friend living with a terminal illness acknowledge that this has been both a rewarding and a demanding time for them.
If you already have a demanding lifestyle, you may need to think about whether you can continue this life style. It can be helpful to discuss future care requirements with your doctor or other valued health care professional. These professionals should be able to give you some guidance about what normally happens when someone has an illness like the one the person you are caring for has.
If you are working, you may then like to discuss the situation with your employer so that together you can work out a plan so that is flexible with your care-giving role.
Looking after your own health
Looking after yourself when you are caring for someone is important, not only for your own sake, but also because it will allow you to provide ongoing care and support for someone else. A number of useful resources are available which include advice on looking after yourself.
The need for a break
You can obtain professional respite in a number of ways. It can be
- Planned or unplanned as a result of a crisis or emergency situation
- Regular, for instance a few hours a week, or arranged irregularly as required
- Provided for a couple of hours, overnight or for several days
- Organised in your own home, in facilities within the community
To find out more about the respite services in your area contact the palliative care service in your region or refer to Carers within links to find carer respite services within each region of Victoria.