Many of the ACT’s more than 55,000 carers are feeling anxious and isolated during lockdown, and at risk of mental ill-health.

To help them cope with this stressful time, the ACT Government has given Carers ACT, the regional peak body, $40,000 to support carers and the people they care for. Carers ACT is one of six welfare organisations to receive government funding for mental health.

“Caring for somebody in the middle of a lockdown with a pandemic is a really challenging moment in time for people, and we know that it has a toll on people’s mental health and wellbeing,” said CEO Lisa Kelly.

Ms Kelly said the organisation would use the money to provide respite activities that help carers “build their wellbeing and nourish their soul”: counselling; equipment so carers can connect to friends, family members, and other carers; or, when lockdown ends, replacement care so carers can have coffee with a friend, or spend time away on a respite retreat.

The extra layers of work, responsibility, worry and anxiety made caring in lockdown more difficult, Ms Kelly said.

For a start, many carers often have outside workers – nurses, therapists, cleaners, and the like – come in to help.

“When everybody is told to stay inside, and you need to bring people into the house, how do you balance that safety requirement? How do we make sure that we are able to support the person we’re caring for, but also keep them safe?”

Often, too, Ms Kelly said, the person receiving care did not understand why they could not go outside; they might not have the patience or tolerance to stay inside all the time; and not taking part in the normal routines of life could make them angry.

“Caring for somebody with dementia while home-schooling, trying to work, and manage the household can be a challenge,” she said.

During lockdown, Carers ACT has put many services online, so carers can stay connected. They run online wellbeing sessions for carers and the people they care for, so they can take half an hour out of their day to look after themselves. They have also begun direct support for people who are frail aged or have cognitive disabilities, including an online social group. Carers ACT is continuing its counselling service, and providing emergency respite for people who cannot continue in their caring role.

“We’re able to help them in that moment to make sure everybody’s looked after and safe,” Ms Kelly said.

Her dedicated staff have bought groceries and delivered them to the house.

“It’s taking the extra worry off their shoulders, and lightening the load,” she said.

Ms Kelly asks the public to support the carers in their lives.

“They probably know a carer – a neighbour, a family member, or a friend – who’s providing care in their house through lockdown.

“We want to encourage the community to reach out to those people, to give them a call, to make sure they’re OK. If you’re a neighbour, bake a cake, and leave it on the doorstep.

“Really let the carers you know that you’re thinking about them, you’re looking out for them, and you recognise the work that they do.”

For more information, carers can call Carers ACT on 6296 9900, or email [email protected]. The Carer Gateway provides counselling, connections with other carers, respite care, self-guided coaching, and skills courses; it is available 24 hours a day. Call 1800 422 737.

“We encourage carers to reach out and talk to us about what’s happening and find a way we can provide support,” Ms Kelly said.

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