This week, 10-16 October, is National Carers Week, dedicated to acknowledging and celebrating the 2.65 million Aussies who provide unpaid care to their family members and friends.
In the ACT alone, over 50,000 individuals aid with tasks of daily living to loved ones with a disability, mental health condition, chronic health condition, are frail aged or require palliative care.
2021’s theme for National Carers Week is “Millions of Reasons to Care,” which aims to spotlight the diversity of carers and their roles.
Carers come in all shapes and sizes, working tirelessly behind closed doors within our own Canberran community. Local women like Lorraine, who cares for her husband Steve who suffers from Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s dementia.
A video diary uploaded by Carers Week ambassadors detailed how Lorraine helps Steve with most physical actions, as well as brain exercises to keep the dementia at bay.
“With the Covid-19 lockdowns, life has become a lot more challenging … we try our best to do things at home while keeping safe, because obviously having Parkinson’s, Steve is in a very high-risk group.
“We do our best to stay positive. It’ll be all over at some point,” Lorraine smiled hopefully.
“It’s really important that carers get some help, so that they can have a little bit of time to themselves to recharge and be ready to look after their loved one better.”
The help required was outlined by Carers ACT CEO, Lisa Kelly.
“We were disappointed that there was no specific funding for carers or the ACT Carers Strategy in the ACT Budget announced last week,” Ms Kelly said.
“Now, more than ever, is the time to demonstrate our support … we urge the ACT Government to stand by the commitments they have made to supporting the ACT Carers Strategy and achieving the vision of a ‘Canberra that Cares for Carers’.”
Another local woman championing National Carers Week is Raelene, who cares for her father, Kevin, through Stage 4 lung cancer that has unfortunately spread to his brain and bones.
“During those times when Dad’s doing really well and he’s mobile and independent, I’m certainly able to do the things I normally do and connect with friends,” Raelene said.
“Sometimes when Dad’s not doing so well, I spend more time at home caring for him, but I still very much try to connect with those people close to me for my own mental health.
“There are millions of reasons to care on National Carers Week. My Dad is mine.”
According to Ms Kelly, “carers report feeling invisible and unrecognised for the contribution they make in caring for some of the most vulnerable members of our community”.
“Now, more than ever, carers have gone above and beyond to keep their loved ones safe and alive through the Covid-19 pandemic, often at the expense of their own economic stability, health, and wellbeing,” she said.
“Caring is never an easy task, and the impact is significant to the individual and the community.”
Watch Lorraine and Raelene’s stories on the Carers Australia YouTube Channel.
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