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For carers and family

Common questions on For carers and family

  Access and eligibility
  1. How can I find out if there are volunteers who can help me look after Dad?

Active ageing
  1. Are some foods better for me than others?
  2. As I get older I don't want to eat as much as I used to - what foods should I eat to be sure I stay healthy?
  3. At my age what does it matter if I have a healthy lifestyle or not?
  4. How can being active and eating well help me as I get older?
  5. I'm fit enough physically, but now that I have retired the days seem to drag on and I feel I am getting mentally sluggish.

Allied health care, aids and equipment
  1. Dad turns his hearing aid off because it 'annoys him' and has missed collecting his Meals on Wheels because he didn't hear the doorbell or the 'phone. Is there anything we can do?
  2. How can I get talking books for Mum?
  3. Mum uses a walking frame now. Is there help that I can get to make changes at home so she can move around more easily?
  4. We would like to get a special desk that can be adjusted to accommodate a wheelchair. Where can I find out about these?
  5. Where can I get continence management equipment free or cheap?

Care options
  1. Dad has always made decisions about his care, but lately I've been worried that he is not considering all the options. What can we do?

Care planning
  1. How can I start to talk to mum about preplanning for her care needs?

Carer support
  1. Because I am the only one who doesn't have a partner my brothers and sister have expected me to give up work to look after Mum now she needs a full-time carer. They don't give me much help with Mum and sometimes criticise what I am doing. This is quite difficult for me.
  2. How can I get in touch with other young people who are carers?
  3. How do I get in touch with other carers?
  4. I'm finding it hard to cope with seeing Mum so frail and helpless. Is there someone I can talk to?
  5. I've heard of carer support groups - what can they actually do for me?
  6. I am currently looking after my mother and am finding it a real handful on top of a full working week. Will I ever get a break!?
  7. I only get a few minutes to myself each day - how can I best use this time to maintain my health?
  8. I really need a break but Dad refuses to go into an aged care home or community house for respite care. What can I do?
  9. I want to join a group that meets once a week and have arranged alternative care for Mum, but she says I am being selfish. Should I continue?
  10. If I am caring for someone, is it possible for me to go on a holiday without them? Will they still be cared for?
  11. Is there only one carer support group in each state/territory or is there one near me?
  12. My aunt is living at home, but only managing because I help her a lot. I have my elderly mother and my own family to care for as well and am finding it increasingly difficult to cope. Is there someone I can talk to about what I can do?
  13. The rest of the family don't seem understand the problems I have looking after Dad. Is there anyone I can talk to?
  14. What help is there for carers?
  15. What if I can no longer cope with being a carer?
  16. What is the National Respite for Carers program?

Carers
  1. What is a Carer Allowance?
  2. What is a Carer Payment?

Caring for someone at home
  1. Dad has trouble eating. Is there someone who can help him?
  2. I don't have time to do all the housework at dad's as well as my own. I can't afford a commercial cleaning service. Can I get help?
  3. I need some help to shower and shave Dad - can I get it?
  4. I really need a break but Dad refuses to go into an aged care home or community house for respite care. What can I do?
  5. My elderly mother has come to live with me on my farm. She needs help with showering, dressing and other personal care. I am away from the house most of the day - can we get help with these things even though we are a few hours drive from the nearest town?
  6. My grandpa is looking scruffy as he gets older because he isn't showering very often or shaving. Is there someone who can help him? How do we arrange it?
  7. Who can I speak with to get more information about Dementia?

Caring for someone in care
  1. How many residents should be located in one room?
  2. I've found a home I like but they say they can't look after me as I'm over 110kg. Can they do this?
  3. Mum is in an aged care home and in the terminal stages of cancer. The home says they cannot look after her and that she has to go to hospital for treatment, but mum doesn't want to go. Can they insist?
  4. My mother is going into high-level dementia care and as a her main carer I would like to be an active participant in her care. How do I go about doing this?
  5. The home has rung to say I need to buy a helmet for mum to wear as she is continually having falls. I don't know whether this is good practice or not - how can I get more information and find out if the home is doing the right thing?

Community care
  1. I'm finding it quite expensive driving my mother to medical appointments. Can I get any help?
  2. If the person I care for can't travel, are there services that come to us?
  3. What food services can I get through the Home and Community Care Program?

Complementary therapy
  1. Can I get allied health services for mum if she is in an aged care home?
  2. How would I know if the person I care for would benefit from allied health support?
  3. Mum lives in a rural area. How can I get a podiatrist for her?
  4. My father sees a lot of medical and allied health professionals who visit him at the home. I don't know why he needs to see so many people, and I don't know what they do for him. Dad doesn't seem to know either. I'm pleased dad is receiving care, but is there a way I can find out what it is all for?
  5. What is an 'alternative therapy'?

Cultural and identified needs
  1. Mum lives in a rural area. How can I get a podiatrist for her?
  2. What help is there for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
  3. What services are available for older people from culturally diverse backgrounds who are in need of aged care?

Dementia
  1. Who can I speak with to get more information about Dementia?

Falls prevention
  1. Mum lives alone. She manages well, but I'm worried that she might fall and need help. What can I do?

Fees and costs
  1. I'm finding it quite expensive driving my mother to medical appointments. Can I get any help?
  2. I'm not sure that I will be able to afford any form of care to help me in my home. What can I do?
  3. I'm not sure that I will be able to afford any form of care. What can I do?
  4. I don't have time to do all the housework at dad's as well as my own. I can't afford a commercial cleaning service. Can I get help?
  5. What is the interest rate providers have to pay to me on the refund of my bond balance?
  6. Will I have to pay for a Home and Community Care service?

Financial and legal
  1. If I have to give up work to help my mother who is getting very frail, how will I manage financially?
  2. What is the difference between the Aged Blind Pension and the Age Pension?

Financial assistance
  1. What benefits are available to me as a carer?

Health conditions
  1. Dad has dementia. Is there any help we can get to look after him?
  2. Dad has Pick's disease (a type of dementia) and lately he's been quite physically violent to a few other residents. Can he be asked to leave the home?
  3. How can we manage Dad's arthritis?
  4. How do I find services to help me look after someone with dementia?
  5. I need more information about diabetes, where can I get it?
  6. Is incontinence more common in women or men?
  7. My mother is going into high-level dementia care and as a her main carer I would like to be an active participant in her care. How do I go about doing this?
  8. Now that Dad is getting older he is having trouble with his bladder - leaking a bit day or night. Can anything be done about this?
  9. Palliative care - if Mum is in pain, can it be eased?
  10. Sometimes Mum is really low then a bit later she is quite happy, but I can't work out what causes the change.
  11. What is a chronic disease?
  12. Where can I get continence management equipment free or cheap?
  13. Who can I speak with to get more information about Dementia?
  14. Who should I call about continence management?

Home safety
  1. Mum uses a walking frame now. Is there help that I can get to make changes at home so she can move around more easily?
  2. What sort of changes to the home can make life safer for older people?

Legal issues
  1. I know from arranging my husband's funeral that there are papers and things you have to have after someone dies. I want to get these ready for when I die. Where can I find a list of what I need?
  2. What information am I entitled to receive about my bond?

Medications
  1. Can I give medications to the person I care for?
  2. If I am concerned about the effect medication is having on the person I care for, who can I talk to for advice?

Mental health
  1. Are mental illnesses a form of intellectual disability or brain damage?
  2. Are people with a mental illness usually dangerous?
  3. Can anyone develop a mental illness?
  4. Depression. If it happened once, will it happen again?
  5. I'm fit enough physically, but now that I have retired the days seem to drag on and I feel I am getting mentally sluggish.
  6. I'm worried about Mum. She is losing her sense of perspective and fretting excessively about things she can't influence, like international events. What can I do?
  7. My husband is already getting help through a Community Aged Care Package (CACP) but he's having a tough time and I think he could do with some counselling. How can we arrange this?
  8. Where can I find more information about depression?

Programs and services
  1. Dad turns his hearing aid off because it 'annoys him' and has missed collecting his Meals on Wheels because he didn't hear the doorbell or the 'phone. Is there anything we can do?
  2. Do we have to pay for services provided by the Home and Community Care (HACC) Program?
  3. How can I find out about programs to help me care for someone?
  4. How can I find out if there are volunteers who can help me look after Dad?
  5. How can we manage Dad's arthritis?
  6. How do I arrange for the care and support to be delivered at times that suit me? Will they come on time?
  7. How do I find out about respite care services?
  8. How do I find out about services for carers?
  9. How do I find services to help me look after someone with dementia?
  10. I'm finding it difficult to do the washing and ironing. I hate my clothes looking untidy. Is there any way I can get help?
  11. I find it hard to do the shopping. What can I do?
  12. I know of Day Therapy Centres, but what is Centre-based Day Care?
  13. I live at home and can do most things for myself. My family give me lots of help, but I feel very guilty and depressed about taking up their time. I've always helped them. What can I do?
  14. I need some help to shower and shave Dad - can I get it?
  15. My elderly mother has come to live with me on my farm. She needs help with showering, dressing and other personal care. I am away from the house most of the day - can we get help with these things even though we are a few hours drive from the nearest town?
  16. My husband is already getting help through a Community Aged Care Package (CACP) but he's having a tough time and I think he could do with some counselling. How can we arrange this?
  17. There are lots of little things need doing around the house but I can't quite manage to do them now. I can't afford to pay tradesmen. Is there someone who can help me?
  18. Where can I get information about day therapy programs?

Rights and responsibilities
  1. My father sees a lot of medical and allied health professionals who visit him at the home. I don't know why he needs to see so many people, and I don't know what they do for him. Dad doesn't seem to know either. I'm pleased dad is receiving care, but is there a way I can find out what it is all for?

Services for carers
  1. How do I find out about services for carers?

Short-term care
  1. How do I find out about respite care services?
  2. I need to arrange respite care for Dad. Who can help me?
  3. What does a Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre do?
  4. What happens if I suddenly get sick?
  5. What if my carer or I need a break?
  6. What is the National Respite for Carers program?
  7. Who arranges in-home respite? How can I get it?
  8. Why do I need an ACAT assessment for respite in an aged care home, but not for respite in the community?

Standards and complaints
  1. Dad has Pick's disease (a type of dementia) and lately he's been quite physically violent to a few other residents. Can he be asked to leave the home?
  2. If I am concerned about the effect medication is having on the person I care for, who can I talk to for advice?
  3. Mum is in an aged care home and in the terminal stages of cancer. The home says they cannot look after her and that she has to go to hospital for treatment, but mum doesn't want to go. Can they insist?
  4. The home has rung to say I need to buy a helmet for mum to wear as she is continually having falls. I don't know whether this is good practice or not - how can I get more information and find out if the home is doing the right thing?
  5. What information am I entitled to receive about my bond?

Transport
  1. How will I get to and from the Day Therapy Centre?
  2. I don't drive and I'm finding it increasingly difficult to get on the bus. How will I be able to do my banking and shopping, especially for clothing and larger items, not just groceries?
  3. I don't drive. The Home and Community Care (HACC) people will take Dad to his medical appointments, but I need to go with him as he never remembers what the doctor says. Will they take me too?
  4. Mum is a war widow. She can't get on buses any more, and I live 600 kms away. How is she going to get to her medical appointments?

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