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Help for Carers

Carolyn Elsworthy, Commonwealth Respite & Carelink Centre July 08

The Carer Respite Centre is a 'single desk' for carers, with information about respite and other resources available to carers. Help is also provided in funding the provision of short term, occasional and emergency respite.

Respite is seen as alternative arrangements that enable time out, or a break from the caring role. It can be offered in a variety of different ways, from in-home respite or community access programs, to residential respite.

To be eligible for our service, a carer needs to be a person who is responsible for providing a significant support or care of someone who is frail, aged, or has a disability, dementia, mental illness or palliative condition.

Carers can be family members, close friends or neighbors, and they can also be young people.

Carelink Centres

Carelink Centres offer a way to access information about aged, disability and community services, with a single phone call or visit to a Carelink Centre. The information provided assists people with their choice to remain living independently in their own home or to enter a residential care facility either for respite or long-term care.

Information and contact details can be provided of a range of services, including;

There is no charge for this service. If information is required from another area or state your call will be transferred free of charge to the nearest Carelink Centre available to enable you to speak directly with a "local person with local knowledge".

The Commonwealth Carer Respite and Carelink Centre have a representative available to provide assistance and information at Centrelink Ballarat (Albert St) every second Thursday from 9.30am - 1pm. No appointment is necessary.

Further assistance can be obtained by calling 1800 052 222 (free call).

This article is available online at http://bddgp.org.au/article/2008/07/carelink

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