Help for Carers
 This section aims to help carers stay well and cope with the challenges they face by connecting them to key information and services.
What about the needs of carers?
Caring can be a very physically and emotionally demanding role, particularly with a complex illness like Parkinson’s. To continue to meet the daily and ongoing challenges of caring, it is essential that you find support when you need it and keep yourself well. To help you do this, we’ve provided links to a range of resources and services below.
Please note: the information in this section is focused on general carer issues. Go to our help for families section if you want Parkinson’s-specific information and support.
Finding support
Few carers are able to cope with the changing demands of Parkinson’s without some form of help or support to ease the pressure. Finding support when you need it is one of the keys to keeping well. It can be difficult to find out what supports and resources are available, so we’ve listed a range of options below to help carers connect to important sources of support. We strongly encourage you to follow up on any you think might be relevant.
Advisory
service for carers
If you are a carer, your local Commonwealth
Respite and Carelink Centre  -
1800 052 222 can be an important resource. These centres can provide
information and support, arrange respite or connect you
to services through the National
Respite for Carers Program (NRCP).
Find a range of other advisory services here.
Respite
Depending on your needs, respite can be provided in different ways:
Find general information
about respite here:
In addition to standard
respite services, you might find Wesley
Do Care
useful. This service visits and
support frail, isolated older people.
To arrange respite or
find out more, talk to your local Commonwealth
Respite and Carelink Centre - 1800 052 222
Information
and support for carers
A range of key services can provide information and support for
carers:
Organising
support services
A range of community services may be able to provide help with household
and daily tasks, giving you and the person you care for a break.
However, you should be aware that getting the right services to
suit your needs can be tricky. To assist you in this process, we’ve
provided useful links:
If you are concerned that
you are not getting access to services you feel you need, it can
help to talk to an advocacy
service.
Keeping
well
When you are busy caring for someone else, it can be difficult to
stay well and find time for your own needs. If you don’t, as time
goes on, you may find yourself becoming exhausted and depleted.
This will affect your ability to care. So, as you can see, it is
vital that you try your best to properly look after your own health
and wellbeing! A range of resources on this topic are listed below.
Looking
after your health and wellbeing
Feeling tired, sad or stressed are signs you need to focus on your
own wellbeing and self-care habits. There are a range of useful
resources available on topics such as relaxation, managing stress,
staying well and coping with loss, grief and depression. Find out
more from:
Remember: you have a right to your own wellbeing and quality of life!
Counselling
and support
At some stage all carers will face challenges and go through difficult
times. Having support is a key factor in getting through these tough
times. Yet, many carers say they do not have the support they need.
If this is the case, it might help to consider meeting with a FREE
specialised counsellor through Carers
Victoria -
1800 242 636. Further information can also be obtained
from the counselling and support section.
Payments
and Concessions
You may be eligible for Centrelink
payments and concessions, depending on the amount of care you
provide. Find out more at Carers
Victoria – payments for carers .
You might also consider applying for a companion
card .
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