Helping carers through grief

A new carer support group, designed to support carers through their grief and loss issues after placing a loved one in aged care, will begin this month.

The announcement comes in time to mark Carers Week which kicked off this Monday (17 October 2011).

The Changing Your Caring Role support group, run by not-for-profit aged and disability services organisation Villa Maria, in partnership with Glengollan Aged Care, has the aim of helping carers adjust to changes in their lifestyles after making difficult decisions for the well-being of their loved ones.

After a gap in services for carers was identified, the need for a support group like Changing Your Caring Role became apparent.

The pilot project, Carers in Transition, ran from October last year to March this year. During this time, Villa Maria assisted 20 carers from the Knox area with referrals to counselling services, aged care advocacy services and legal or financial services, and provided carers telephone support for up to six weeks. 

Villa Maria project officer, Krishna Dutton, says while many carers experience “intense feelings of loneliness, grief and loss” when they are unable to care for their loved one at home, it is “vitally important” to ensure carers look after themselves.

“Most often they have been caring for another person for so long that they lose touch with who they are and neglect their own needs and interests,” Ms Dutton says.

A review of the pilot project finds a “simple 15 minute” phone call can make a “huge difference” to carers as it gives them the time to “tell their story”.

“This new support group will give carers an outlet in which to expand on their experiences with people in similar situations and give them access to local services which can help them through what can be a very difficult time,” Ms Dutton says.

While some carers may have “relinquished” their carers’ roles, Ms Dutton insists the role of caring for a loved one never ends.

“So, they will still often be performing the duties of a carer such as regular visits to a loved one, cooking meals, washing, managing finances and advocating on behalf of a loved one,” she explains.

It is hoped the six-week program will be rolled out across other aged care residences and will eventually expand to include carers of people with disabilities.

The group will meet fortnightly from until Tuesday, December 20 at Glengollan Village in Ferntree Gully, from 10am to 12pm. Carers living in Knox are invited to attend. For more information, or to register, call Villa Maria Carer Access on 1300 650 615.