Take care of YOU too...
Anticipatory Grief: As Powerful As Grief After Death, Yet Often Not Spoken Of
By Caroline Egan. Jan 29, 2019
Families can sometimes experience profound grief for a loved one, even when that loved one is still alive. These feelings are known as anticipatory grief.
The grief may come from the fact that a loved one has a terminal or life limiting illness and they know they will die. Or it may arise from the fact their loved one’s personality has been changed by their illness.
Anticipatory grief is also often a combination of both of these factors.
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Often caregiving is for the long-haul and can take a major toll on your own health. Do look at 'dipping your toe in the water' and asking for some Respite.
NO. However, what it DOES mean is that you recognise that it takes a TEAM to look after your loved one. It doesn't have to be just YOU!!! Yes, I know that you can do it, but what if Your health fails, who then looks after your loved one? Or would you have to have an urgent look at nursing home placement? For me, the deciding factor was just that. What if MY health failed? What if I fell and needed hospital care? Who would look after Don?
"I hope you realize, when you have mates, buddies and old friends, brothers and sisters, who you chat with, laugh with, talk with, have sing songs with, talk about north-south-east-west or heaven and earth, that is true happiness!"
Steve Jobs died a billionaire at age 56. This is his final essay.
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Carers Payments and services
If you provide care for someone with a severe disability, illness or a frail and aged adult.
Go to https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/caring-for-someone On 1 February 2020 - became Services Australia.
This site has been Extraordinarily thought out. Just click on whatever information/services you are looking for and 'click'... 10 December 2021
Carer Gateway Counselling Service.
Caring for a loved one is important work. Some days caring brings great joy, but some days it can be lonely or a little overwhelming. No matter how you feel today, there is a counselling professional just a phone call away.
The Carer Gateway Counselling Service is a free service for carers. Each weekday, from 8am to 6pm, our professional counsellors are waiting to talk through the concerns you have and how you feel about your carer role. To learn more about how counselling helps carers, watch their video “Introducing the Carer Gateway Counselling Service” on https://counselling.carergateway.gov.au/s/
To use the Carer Gateway Counselling Service, simply select ‘Request a Callback’, fill in your details and they will call you back within one business day. You can also call 1800 422 737 and Select Option 1 to speak to our team.
If you are distressed and need immediate support, please select the ‘Urgent Help’ tab for details of 24 hour crisis services.
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High Priority is defined as:
Client is considered at urgent and immediate risk in terms of their personal safety or at immediate risk of admission into residential care. The client may have a carer and the carer arrangements are unsustainable or the carer is at crisis point.
https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2019/12/acat-guidance-for-home-care-package-high-priority.pdf
Home care services priority – either medium or high priority with the priority indicating how quickly the client requires the package. The default priority will be medium priority with only a small percentage of clients who are at immediate risk* being approved as high priority. Care level and priority for home care service are not necessarily linked – a level 4 client will not always have a 'high' priority for home care service – they may need a high level of care, but not be at immediate risk* for a range of reasons.
• The priority for home care service is a delegate decision similar to the package level decision, and can be appealed by a client if they disagree with the decision. You will be told what your priority for home care service is, in the same letter that will inform you which level of package you have been
approved for.
* Immediate Risk:
Carer Gateway - for YOU!
Carer Gateway provides practical information and advice and connects Carers with local supports. To register for Carer Gateway call 1800 422 737 or visit carergateway.gov.au
Getting help through Carer Gateway:
Carers can get a wide range of help – from counselling and peer support groups to respite care, home help and equipment.
How can I get Help?
When you call Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737, you will reach a Carer Gateway service provider in your area. A trained worker will be available to talk with you and then help you to find services and support to meet your needs.
Carer services are available through a new Australia-wide network of Carer Gateway service providers.
Getting help under the new Carer Gateway approach is easy. Just follow our 3 simple steps:
Step 1 – Realise that help is available:
This sounds like an easy step. But many carers don't ask for help – they don't know help is available, or they think it will take too much time and trouble to find what they need. So they battle on day to day.
But if you don't get help early, you might burn out or develop your own health problems.
This is where Carer Gateway comes in. By talking with your Carer Gateway service provider, you can find help before you have problems.
Step 2 – Call 1800 422 737:
That's all you need to do.
You can also ask for someone to call you back at a time that suits you (see Request a call back).
Step 3 – Get the help you need:
When you call this number, you will reach a Carer Gateway service provider in your area. They will talk through what you need and then help you to find services and support that meet your needs.
You can call as often as you need to.
You can also explore this website to find other support. You can:
Have you thought about: - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - =
What is Carer Gateway?
Carer Gateway is a national support service funded by the Australian Government. It provides FREE SUPPORT for Carers through a network of regional Carer Gateway service providers.
Wellways Australia is the chosen service provider of Carer Gateway services throughout Queensland and New South Wales regions of South West Sydney and Nepean Blue Mountains.
Who can access Carer Gateway?
If you support a family member or friend who has a disability, mental health condition, chronic health condition, terminal illness, or is frail aged, you can access free supports via Carer Gateway.
You don't need to be a new carer to use Carer Gateway services - any carer can use the services at any time in their caring journey.
What services are available for Carers?
Carer Gateway gives you access to a range of free services and supports to help you when you are caring for someone else, these include:
COVID-19 uPDATE: With the current climate it is more important than ever that you have access to carer supports. Some services have been modified to limit face-to-face contact.
How to access Care Gateway
Our Carer Gateway team is available 6am to 10pm, 7 days a week.
To register for services, call 1800 422 737 or visit www.carergateway.gov.au for more information.
“Under the new measure, carers will be able to access over 5,000 financial packages valued at up to $3,000 for practical supports to help them in their caring journey. The new measure will also increase the availability of respite to support carers ’wellbeing'." https://dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/04_2019/pbs-fact-sheet-carer-support-serviceslfexzjs.pdf
Information for Carers
Carers are encouraged to register their interest in the new Carer Gateway Support Services to receive information updates and news through regular email communications.
https://wellways.org/carers
These new services can help you to reduce stress, improve wellbeing and get the support you need before reaching crisis point.
A full suite of practical resources to improve carer wellbeing, skills and knowledge are progressively being available on Carer Gateway:
How does Emergency Respite work?
The form of respite varies with the time, level and type of care needed:
In my 23 years of hands on care in the home, the Most Important thing I ever did, was to co-ordinate this Team. I was the one who wrote of "What has changed since your last visit" and insisted Everyone who attended Don read it first, Before they started their shift with him.
Every time we went to the GP (and this was a Lot what with all the falls... and adverse reactions to almost all the medications...), I stood there and Insisted the Doctor read the summary first, 'Before' attending to Don. It was interesting that the A&E staff would say to me, "Where did you get this? This is like gold. Can we take a copy?" I always smiled and said, "Yes" :-)
We care out of Love, and some care out of Obligation, but whichever it is for you, YOU need all the help you can get. These webpages will help guide you and hopefully reduce your Stress levels and the sense that Everything is Too Hard, Too out of control, and anyway, YOU are just Too Tired to care, for now.
*********************************
https://kevinmd.com/blog/2019/09/in-medicine-find-the-beauty-in-what-is-common.html
Wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding the beauty in what is common. To my understanding, wabi means the discovery of small imperfections in everyday objects that somehow give them an almost ironic perfection, and the word sabi represents the calm and tranquility that can be found in the ancient object that has passed its brief moment of utility. Together wabi-sabi is the lichen on a fallen oak branch, the lustrous emerald green of a dead beetle with its leg angled just so or the chipped marble that has broken away off a gravestone. It is perfection in imperfection — or rather, it is the imperfection that makes a thing perfect. It may be found anywhere and at any time if one just knows how to look.
**********************************
Think about it!
What a Carer Actually DOES:
Carer self-assessment checklist:
As a carer, there are a number of things to consider to make sure both you and the person you care for remain as healthy as possible, both physically and emotionally.
By doing a carer needs assessment and self-assessing your own situation, you will better know what resources you may need to draw on in the future.
A good place to start for a self-assessment is to note down how many hours you spend each week helping, supervising or prompting the person you care for with, for example:
Knowing how much time you spend on these home care activities will also help you when you are assessed for Government carer support services.
These Guidelines are not just for those who care under the NDIS; they are equally applicable to Any Carer, no matter what your role.
Print Resources Different people have different needs for information at different times during an illness. Patients will also have different needs from their carers. To support these different needs the following list of resources has been compiled based around topics relevant to patients and their carers. The source of the information is included, note that some information is from outside Australia.
https://caresearch.com.au/caresearch/tabid/1262/Default.aspx#BGL
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The individual’s coping style to psychosocial stress impacts the stress-induced pathological changes and the risk of psychological disorders such as depression.
For an in-depth understanding of Mental Health topics - A - Z.
7 Carer Coping Skills and Planning tips for those Special Occasions
Those Special Occasions/Celebrations are a challenging time for Carers, for many it can be overwhelming, stressful with mixed emotions such as anxiety, love and sadness. Some family members that you don’t often see may find it difficult to understand the complexities of a mental illness, which could lead to loved ones feeling rejected.
Australian Carer Payment eligibility requirements
https://finder.com.au/australian-carer-payment-eligibility-requirements Last updated: 29 September 2020
Carer Payment provides income support for Australians who provide full-time care for another person. It’s important to note that when applying for Carer Payment, both the carer and the person receiving care must satisfy certain eligibility criteria.
The carer must meet the following criteria in order to qualify for payment:
How do I submit a claim if I think I'm eligible?
If you satisfy the eligibility requirements for Carer Payment, you can claim payment by following the process below:
If your circumstances change while you are receiving Carer Payment, you will need to notify the Department of Human Services. Examples of relevant changes include when:
Failure to notify the Department of Human Services of any changes within 14 days could lead to you being overpaid and having to pay those benefits back in future. It’s always vital to report any income that you and your partner earn to the Department of Human Services. This includes details of your hourly pay rate and the number of hours you have worked during each reporting period. Even if your income for the period is zero, you still need to report it to the Department.
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healthcare in the home
To inform debate at the forum, the Centre produced an issues paper of the same name that compares hospital treatment with acute and chronic treatment services in the home.
The paper found that, in many cases:
Finding a Provider...
To find latest vacancies, have a look here. then click on different Providers to learn more. Please note that once given a Package, you have 56 days (with the option of an extension of 28 days) to take up a package with your chosen Provider before it is withdrawn, and goes back into the national 'prioritization queue’ . All is not lost though, an older person can 'opt out' if they are not ready to take up a package but still retain their place in the queue, should they choose to rejoin later.
The department is notifying older people on the queue when they are likely to be assigned a package within 90 days.
Home care services priority – either medium or high priority with the priority indicating how quickly the client requires the package. The default priority will be medium priority with only a small percentage of clients who are at immediate risk* being approved as high priority. Care level and priority for home care service are not necessarily linked – a level 4 client will not always have a 'high' priority for home care service – they may need a high level of care, but not be at immediate risk* for a range of reasons.
• The priority for home care service is a delegate decision similar to the package level decision, and can be appealed by a client if they disagree with the decision. You will be told what your priority for home care service is, in the same letter that will inform you which level of package you have been
approved for.
* Immediate Risk:
The future of health care is not in hospitals
By Gihan Perera
Monday, 10 February, 2020
Read more: http://hospitalhealth.com.au/content/technology/article/the-future-of-health-care-is-not-in-hospitals-948585751#ixzz6DcnXA9Qa
Patients don’t care about hospitals; they care about their health. In the past, the hospital experience was a significant part of health care, but that won’t necessarily be true in the future. If you’re a hospital leader, look beyond your four walls and consider the entire patient journey, because that’s the only way to stay ahead of the game and avoid disruption.
With our ageing population, exponential technology advances and the increase in chronic diseases, the healthcare sector will play an ever-increasing role in our lives. Deloitte predicts healthcare spending worldwide will explode to $14 trillion (that’s trillion, with a ‘t’) by 2022.
But this growth won’t be distributed evenly and there will be winners and losers. Hospitals in particular are vulnerable because many of the services they provide will occur elsewhere. If hospitals keep making incremental changes, they will be vulnerable to disruption from elsewhere.
To protect from disruption, the hospital sector must take a broader perspective. In particular, it is important to consider how patients will engage with the healthcare system in the future.
Map the future patient journey. No-one knows exactly how people will behave in the future, but it is possible to get a good idea by mapping patients’ typical journeys through the healthcare system. For example, consider a common situation that hospitals face: a patient suffering a heart attack who requires emergency care. Let’s imagine how this patient’s journey might look in the near future.
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Talking informally with other Carers Does Help!
Angels Carer Support Group. Held the last Tuesday of each month at St. Paul's Anglican Church Hall, 69 Palm Beach Ave, PALM BEACH
Come just after 1.00pm for that cuppa and a chat. Often we have Speakers on subjects of interest to us as Carers - they start about 1.00pm and go to about 3.00pm. Other times we just sit, relax and enjoy each other's company and support each other as we face the daily caregiving tasks. Sit and chat, and take a brief break - for YOU :-) We hold our meetings on the last Tuesday of each month. Father Phillip is a Great Supporter of the Angels.
YOU are most welcome to join us :-) Do take CARE of YOU too...
and to find out what else is going on in the Palm Beach area: http://palmbeachgoldcoast.net.au/events/
-----------------Self Service
You can do most of your Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support business using our Express Plus mobile apps, online accounts or phone self service.
Soon myGov will be the only way you can access your Centrelink online account. Start using myGov now.
Login to My Aged Care using myGov
My Aged Care client record
When you call My Aged Care, our contact centre staff will ask you a number of questions to help us understand your needs. The contact centre will also seek your consent to create a personalised client record which will hold information on your needs and any services put in place. The record will mean you won’t have to retell your story on multiple occasions to the contact centre, assessors and service providers.
If you have a client record with My Aged Care you can access your client record using myGov. The client record allows you to:
For more information, please read the My Aged Care Client Portal User Guide (PDF, 3.2Mb).
When you call My Aged Care, our contact centre staff will ask you a number of questions to help us understand your needs. The contact centre will also seek your consent to create a personalised client record which will hold information on your needs and any services put in place.
Learn more about My Health Record
The My Health Record system operator (Australian Digital Health Agency) has a range of factsheets and guidance available to assist patients with managing their My Health Record including:
The My Health Record system is underpinned by strong legislation and includes penalties for the unauthorised access, use and disclosure of patient health information. If you would like to provide feedback about Queensland Health’s handling of your My Health Record please contact your local Queensland Health facility.
For further information, including how patients can opt out of the My Health Record at any time, or cancel their My Health Record, contact the My Health Record system operator on 1800 723 471, or go to the My Health Record website.
In immediate danger? Call 000 now.
For 24/7 support and counselling, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
Call 1800 723 471 if you think your family's safety is at risk due to information in a My Health Record.
Find out more
AIHW appointed to manage and release datasets for the My Health Record secondary use of data The AIHW is proud to have been selected to manage and release My Health Record data for secondary purposes. The announcement reinforces our position as trusted, experienced managers of and leaders in data.
Using My Health Record for secondary purposes will open a range of possibilities to fill data gaps by allowing the health sector to better understand how Australia’s health system is used—as well as gaining valuable insights into the health outcomes for patients.
It is a significant new role for the AIHW, and we look forward to working closely with the Department of Health, the Australian Digital Health Agency and other stakeholders to build the evidence base and contribute to better health and wellbeing for all Australians, while upholding the strictest data quality and privacy standards.
For more information on the use of My Health Record data for secondary purposes: Framework to guide the secondary use of My Health Record system data
The first release of data is expected to commence from 2020, subject to the establishment of the Framework’s governance arrangements and technical infrastructure. The Framework will be subject to regular review – the first review will take place no later than two years after the first release of data.
https://www.aihw.gov.au/news-media/news/2018/may-2018/aihw-takes-on-custodianship-of-my-health-record-da
19 April, 2022
Anticipatory Grief: As Powerful As Grief After Death, Yet Often Not Spoken Of
By Caroline Egan. Jan 29, 2019
Families can sometimes experience profound grief for a loved one, even when that loved one is still alive. These feelings are known as anticipatory grief.
The grief may come from the fact that a loved one has a terminal or life limiting illness and they know they will die. Or it may arise from the fact their loved one’s personality has been changed by their illness.
Anticipatory grief is also often a combination of both of these factors.
- - - - - - - - - - -
Often caregiving is for the long-haul and can take a major toll on your own health. Do look at 'dipping your toe in the water' and asking for some Respite.
- This does NOT mean that YOU are a lesser Carer.
- This does NOT mean that YOU cannot cope.
- This does NOT mean that YOU are failing to look after your loved one.
NO. However, what it DOES mean is that you recognise that it takes a TEAM to look after your loved one. It doesn't have to be just YOU!!! Yes, I know that you can do it, but what if Your health fails, who then looks after your loved one? Or would you have to have an urgent look at nursing home placement? For me, the deciding factor was just that. What if MY health failed? What if I fell and needed hospital care? Who would look after Don?
"I hope you realize, when you have mates, buddies and old friends, brothers and sisters, who you chat with, laugh with, talk with, have sing songs with, talk about north-south-east-west or heaven and earth, that is true happiness!"
Steve Jobs died a billionaire at age 56. This is his final essay.
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Carers Payments and services
If you provide care for someone with a severe disability, illness or a frail and aged adult.
Go to https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/caring-for-someone On 1 February 2020 - became Services Australia.
This site has been Extraordinarily thought out. Just click on whatever information/services you are looking for and 'click'... 10 December 2021
Carer Gateway Counselling Service.
Caring for a loved one is important work. Some days caring brings great joy, but some days it can be lonely or a little overwhelming. No matter how you feel today, there is a counselling professional just a phone call away.
The Carer Gateway Counselling Service is a free service for carers. Each weekday, from 8am to 6pm, our professional counsellors are waiting to talk through the concerns you have and how you feel about your carer role. To learn more about how counselling helps carers, watch their video “Introducing the Carer Gateway Counselling Service” on https://counselling.carergateway.gov.au/s/
To use the Carer Gateway Counselling Service, simply select ‘Request a Callback’, fill in your details and they will call you back within one business day. You can also call 1800 422 737 and Select Option 1 to speak to our team.
If you are distressed and need immediate support, please select the ‘Urgent Help’ tab for details of 24 hour crisis services.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
High Priority is defined as:
Client is considered at urgent and immediate risk in terms of their personal safety or at immediate risk of admission into residential care. The client may have a carer and the carer arrangements are unsustainable or the carer is at crisis point.
https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2019/12/acat-guidance-for-home-care-package-high-priority.pdf
Home care services priority – either medium or high priority with the priority indicating how quickly the client requires the package. The default priority will be medium priority with only a small percentage of clients who are at immediate risk* being approved as high priority. Care level and priority for home care service are not necessarily linked – a level 4 client will not always have a 'high' priority for home care service – they may need a high level of care, but not be at immediate risk* for a range of reasons.
• The priority for home care service is a delegate decision similar to the package level decision, and can be appealed by a client if they disagree with the decision. You will be told what your priority for home care service is, in the same letter that will inform you which level of package you have been
approved for.
* Immediate Risk:
- A 'high' priority for home care service should generally indicate that a client is considered at risk in terms of rapid physical, mental or cognitive decline, or in terms of their personal safety.
- A client may have a carer at risk of/ or at a crisis point.
- Clients with special needs should not be automatically be considered to have a 'high' priority, as they may not have an Urgent Need to assess a package quickly.
Carer Gateway - for YOU!
Carer Gateway provides practical information and advice and connects Carers with local supports. To register for Carer Gateway call 1800 422 737 or visit carergateway.gov.au
Getting help through Carer Gateway:
Carers can get a wide range of help – from counselling and peer support groups to respite care, home help and equipment.
- How can I get help?
- How to access Carer Gateway services
- What support is available?
- Who can use Carer Gateway?
- What's changed?
- What if I already use a service?
- Who are the Carer Gateway service providers?
How can I get Help?
When you call Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737, you will reach a Carer Gateway service provider in your area. A trained worker will be available to talk with you and then help you to find services and support to meet your needs.
Carer services are available through a new Australia-wide network of Carer Gateway service providers.
Getting help under the new Carer Gateway approach is easy. Just follow our 3 simple steps:
Step 1 – Realise that help is available:
This sounds like an easy step. But many carers don't ask for help – they don't know help is available, or they think it will take too much time and trouble to find what they need. So they battle on day to day.
But if you don't get help early, you might burn out or develop your own health problems.
This is where Carer Gateway comes in. By talking with your Carer Gateway service provider, you can find help before you have problems.
Step 2 – Call 1800 422 737:
That's all you need to do.
You can also ask for someone to call you back at a time that suits you (see Request a call back).
Step 3 – Get the help you need:
When you call this number, you will reach a Carer Gateway service provider in your area. They will talk through what you need and then help you to find services and support that meet your needs.
You can call as often as you need to.
You can also explore this website to find other support. You can:
- Find practical help and advice or financial support
- Talk with a counsellor over the phone
- Talk with other carers online
- Work through online coaching sessions or skills courses
Have you thought about: - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - =
What is Carer Gateway?
Carer Gateway is a national support service funded by the Australian Government. It provides FREE SUPPORT for Carers through a network of regional Carer Gateway service providers.
Wellways Australia is the chosen service provider of Carer Gateway services throughout Queensland and New South Wales regions of South West Sydney and Nepean Blue Mountains.
Who can access Carer Gateway?
If you support a family member or friend who has a disability, mental health condition, chronic health condition, terminal illness, or is frail aged, you can access free supports via Carer Gateway.
You don't need to be a new carer to use Carer Gateway services - any carer can use the services at any time in their caring journey.
What services are available for Carers?
Carer Gateway gives you access to a range of free services and supports to help you when you are caring for someone else, these include:
- Carer directed support Practical assistance to ensure you have access to the resources you need when caring for someone, such as items to assist in your caring role and short-term respite.
- Carer support planning There are a lots of great support services out there and it can feel overwhelming figuring out the best fit for your needs. We can help by identifying the kinds of services which might be most useful and work with you to develop a simple plan for ongoing support.
- Counselling If you're feeling stressed or overwhelmed, you can talk it through in a series of one-on-one sessions with a professional counsellor.
- In-person peer support Get together with other carers to catch up, make connections and share stories, knowledge and experience.
- Emergency respite care If something urgent or unforeseen happens that prevents you from being able to be there for the person you support, we can make sure the person you care for will be looked after.
- Online support Carers can also access online counselling, carer forums and self-guided coaching sessions via carergateway.gov.au
COVID-19 uPDATE: With the current climate it is more important than ever that you have access to carer supports. Some services have been modified to limit face-to-face contact.
How to access Care Gateway
Our Carer Gateway team is available 6am to 10pm, 7 days a week.
To register for services, call 1800 422 737 or visit www.carergateway.gov.au for more information.
“Under the new measure, carers will be able to access over 5,000 financial packages valued at up to $3,000 for practical supports to help them in their caring journey. The new measure will also increase the availability of respite to support carers ’wellbeing'." https://dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/04_2019/pbs-fact-sheet-carer-support-serviceslfexzjs.pdf
Information for Carers
Carers are encouraged to register their interest in the new Carer Gateway Support Services to receive information updates and news through regular email communications.
https://wellways.org/carers
These new services can help you to reduce stress, improve wellbeing and get the support you need before reaching crisis point.
A full suite of practical resources to improve carer wellbeing, skills and knowledge are progressively being available on Carer Gateway:
How does Emergency Respite work?
The form of respite varies with the time, level and type of care needed:
- For a few hours, or overnight, try in-home or centre-based respite
- Need HELP - like Now... There is no age limit on this, even if your loved one is over 65 years of age, you can ring for Help.
- For several days or more, you are probably looking at respite away from your own home - Ask! You'll be surprised at the knowledge and expertise the girls at Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre have. Talk it through with them. They can help answer your questions... and ease your mind that it is NOT your fault... There IS help. All you have to do is ASK...
- If you are applying for financial hardship assistance for Home Care and Residential Care Respite Form you need Form SA462. 10 Dec 2021. https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/sa462
- and it is never too early to start assembling Click here for Your Team. Yours and your loved ones Sanity depends on it :-) No, I do mean Seriously!
In my 23 years of hands on care in the home, the Most Important thing I ever did, was to co-ordinate this Team. I was the one who wrote of "What has changed since your last visit" and insisted Everyone who attended Don read it first, Before they started their shift with him.
Every time we went to the GP (and this was a Lot what with all the falls... and adverse reactions to almost all the medications...), I stood there and Insisted the Doctor read the summary first, 'Before' attending to Don. It was interesting that the A&E staff would say to me, "Where did you get this? This is like gold. Can we take a copy?" I always smiled and said, "Yes" :-)
We care out of Love, and some care out of Obligation, but whichever it is for you, YOU need all the help you can get. These webpages will help guide you and hopefully reduce your Stress levels and the sense that Everything is Too Hard, Too out of control, and anyway, YOU are just Too Tired to care, for now.
*********************************
https://kevinmd.com/blog/2019/09/in-medicine-find-the-beauty-in-what-is-common.html
Wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding the beauty in what is common. To my understanding, wabi means the discovery of small imperfections in everyday objects that somehow give them an almost ironic perfection, and the word sabi represents the calm and tranquility that can be found in the ancient object that has passed its brief moment of utility. Together wabi-sabi is the lichen on a fallen oak branch, the lustrous emerald green of a dead beetle with its leg angled just so or the chipped marble that has broken away off a gravestone. It is perfection in imperfection — or rather, it is the imperfection that makes a thing perfect. It may be found anywhere and at any time if one just knows how to look.
**********************************
Think about it!
What a Carer Actually DOES:
Carer self-assessment checklist:
As a carer, there are a number of things to consider to make sure both you and the person you care for remain as healthy as possible, both physically and emotionally.
By doing a carer needs assessment and self-assessing your own situation, you will better know what resources you may need to draw on in the future.
A good place to start for a self-assessment is to note down how many hours you spend each week helping, supervising or prompting the person you care for with, for example:
- mobility (moving around the house, turning someone during the night)
- personal hygiene (bathing, dressing, using the toilet)
- eating and drinking (making sure they eat and drink, preparing food)
- communication and social participation (organising social activities, help with communicating their needs to you or others)
- health and treatment (giving medicine, therapeutic exercises)
- safety (checking water temperature, making sure someone does not injure themselves or others)
- behaviour (supervising and understanding why people act the way they do).
Knowing how much time you spend on these home care activities will also help you when you are assessed for Government carer support services.
These Guidelines are not just for those who care under the NDIS; they are equally applicable to Any Carer, no matter what your role.
Print Resources Different people have different needs for information at different times during an illness. Patients will also have different needs from their carers. To support these different needs the following list of resources has been compiled based around topics relevant to patients and their carers. The source of the information is included, note that some information is from outside Australia.
https://caresearch.com.au/caresearch/tabid/1262/Default.aspx#BGL
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The individual’s coping style to psychosocial stress impacts the stress-induced pathological changes and the risk of psychological disorders such as depression.
For an in-depth understanding of Mental Health topics - A - Z.
7 Carer Coping Skills and Planning tips for those Special Occasions
Those Special Occasions/Celebrations are a challenging time for Carers, for many it can be overwhelming, stressful with mixed emotions such as anxiety, love and sadness. Some family members that you don’t often see may find it difficult to understand the complexities of a mental illness, which could lead to loved ones feeling rejected.
Australian Carer Payment eligibility requirements
https://finder.com.au/australian-carer-payment-eligibility-requirements Last updated: 29 September 2020
Carer Payment provides income support for Australians who provide full-time care for another person. It’s important to note that when applying for Carer Payment, both the carer and the person receiving care must satisfy certain eligibility criteria.
The carer must meet the following criteria in order to qualify for payment:
- They must constantly provide personal in-home care to someone who is disabled, suffers from a medical condition or is frail aged
- They must satisfy an income test. Under the income test, any financial assets in your name are deemed to earn income. The income you earn will affect the Carer Payment amount you are eligible to receive. For example, if you are single and your income reaches or exceeds $1,868.60 per fortnight, you will not be eligible for any payment. If you are a couple and your fortnightly income passes the $2,860 mark, the amount you are eligible to receive reduces to $0. For transitional rate pensioners who are in a couple, their combined fortnightly income cannot exceed $3,191 if they are to receive financial support.
- They must satisfy an assets test. Assets that are taken into account include real estate assets, life interests, financial investments, superannuation investments, income streams, business assets and assets you gift to other people. For single homeowners, their assets must be less than $202,000 to receive a full payment.
- They must be living in Australia and they must meet residence requirements.
How do I submit a claim if I think I'm eligible?
If you satisfy the eligibility requirements for Carer Payment, you can claim payment by following the process below:
- Register your intent to claim
- Read all the conditions for claiming Carer Payment
- Complete the claim form available from the Department of Human Services
- Gather any other documentation required to support your claim
- Submit your claim
- Your claim will be assessed by the Department of Human Services
If your circumstances change while you are receiving Carer Payment, you will need to notify the Department of Human Services. Examples of relevant changes include when:
- Your care arrangements change
- The person you care for goes into respite care or hospital, or perhaps requires less care
- The child you are caring for is no longer your dependent
- You change your address
- Your income, assets or investments change in any way
Failure to notify the Department of Human Services of any changes within 14 days could lead to you being overpaid and having to pay those benefits back in future. It’s always vital to report any income that you and your partner earn to the Department of Human Services. This includes details of your hourly pay rate and the number of hours you have worked during each reporting period. Even if your income for the period is zero, you still need to report it to the Department.
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healthcare in the home
To inform debate at the forum, the Centre produced an issues paper of the same name that compares hospital treatment with acute and chronic treatment services in the home.
The paper found that, in many cases:
- it was better for the patient and
- more cost effective to provide treatment at home than in hospital
- Besides the cost savings
- patients often prefer being at home and
- there can be other benefits
- like a reduced risk of hospital acquired/ cross infection
- medication errors and
- decreased patient depression and anxiety
Finding a Provider...
To find latest vacancies, have a look here. then click on different Providers to learn more. Please note that once given a Package, you have 56 days (with the option of an extension of 28 days) to take up a package with your chosen Provider before it is withdrawn, and goes back into the national 'prioritization queue’ . All is not lost though, an older person can 'opt out' if they are not ready to take up a package but still retain their place in the queue, should they choose to rejoin later.
The department is notifying older people on the queue when they are likely to be assigned a package within 90 days.
Home care services priority – either medium or high priority with the priority indicating how quickly the client requires the package. The default priority will be medium priority with only a small percentage of clients who are at immediate risk* being approved as high priority. Care level and priority for home care service are not necessarily linked – a level 4 client will not always have a 'high' priority for home care service – they may need a high level of care, but not be at immediate risk* for a range of reasons.
• The priority for home care service is a delegate decision similar to the package level decision, and can be appealed by a client if they disagree with the decision. You will be told what your priority for home care service is, in the same letter that will inform you which level of package you have been
approved for.
* Immediate Risk:
- A 'high' priority for home care service should generally indicate that a client is considered at risk in terms of rapid physical, mental or cognitive decline, or in terms of their personal safety.
- A client may have a carer at risk of/ or at a crisis point.
- Clients with special needs should not be automatically be considered to have a 'high' priority, as they may not have an Urgent Need to assess a package quickly.
The future of health care is not in hospitals
By Gihan Perera
Monday, 10 February, 2020
Read more: http://hospitalhealth.com.au/content/technology/article/the-future-of-health-care-is-not-in-hospitals-948585751#ixzz6DcnXA9Qa
Patients don’t care about hospitals; they care about their health. In the past, the hospital experience was a significant part of health care, but that won’t necessarily be true in the future. If you’re a hospital leader, look beyond your four walls and consider the entire patient journey, because that’s the only way to stay ahead of the game and avoid disruption.
With our ageing population, exponential technology advances and the increase in chronic diseases, the healthcare sector will play an ever-increasing role in our lives. Deloitte predicts healthcare spending worldwide will explode to $14 trillion (that’s trillion, with a ‘t’) by 2022.
But this growth won’t be distributed evenly and there will be winners and losers. Hospitals in particular are vulnerable because many of the services they provide will occur elsewhere. If hospitals keep making incremental changes, they will be vulnerable to disruption from elsewhere.
To protect from disruption, the hospital sector must take a broader perspective. In particular, it is important to consider how patients will engage with the healthcare system in the future.
Map the future patient journey. No-one knows exactly how people will behave in the future, but it is possible to get a good idea by mapping patients’ typical journeys through the healthcare system. For example, consider a common situation that hospitals face: a patient suffering a heart attack who requires emergency care. Let’s imagine how this patient’s journey might look in the near future.
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Talking informally with other Carers Does Help!
Angels Carer Support Group. Held the last Tuesday of each month at St. Paul's Anglican Church Hall, 69 Palm Beach Ave, PALM BEACH
Come just after 1.00pm for that cuppa and a chat. Often we have Speakers on subjects of interest to us as Carers - they start about 1.00pm and go to about 3.00pm. Other times we just sit, relax and enjoy each other's company and support each other as we face the daily caregiving tasks. Sit and chat, and take a brief break - for YOU :-) We hold our meetings on the last Tuesday of each month. Father Phillip is a Great Supporter of the Angels.
YOU are most welcome to join us :-) Do take CARE of YOU too...
and to find out what else is going on in the Palm Beach area: http://palmbeachgoldcoast.net.au/events/
-----------------Self Service
You can do most of your Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support business using our Express Plus mobile apps, online accounts or phone self service.
Soon myGov will be the only way you can access your Centrelink online account. Start using myGov now.
- You can find out if any of our services are unavailable by going to customer service changes.
- Centrelink online accounts and the Express Plus Centrelink and Express Plus Lite mobile apps are available 24/7.
- Medicare online accounts and the Express Plus Medicare mobile app are available 24/7.
Login to My Aged Care using myGov
My Aged Care client record
When you call My Aged Care, our contact centre staff will ask you a number of questions to help us understand your needs. The contact centre will also seek your consent to create a personalised client record which will hold information on your needs and any services put in place. The record will mean you won’t have to retell your story on multiple occasions to the contact centre, assessors and service providers.
If you have a client record with My Aged Care you can access your client record using myGov. The client record allows you to:
- update your personal details
- view your action or support plan, which outlines your assessed care needs
- view a summary of My Aged Care activities recently undertaken, such as your calls to My Aged Care
- view any referrals to service providers and their status
- update your client representatives. These are the people you have given permission to view your client record
- view your assessments and/or services.
For more information, please read the My Aged Care Client Portal User Guide (PDF, 3.2Mb).
When you call My Aged Care, our contact centre staff will ask you a number of questions to help us understand your needs. The contact centre will also seek your consent to create a personalised client record which will hold information on your needs and any services put in place.
Learn more about My Health Record
The My Health Record system operator (Australian Digital Health Agency) has a range of factsheets and guidance available to assist patients with managing their My Health Record including:
- What's in a My Health Record?
- Who can see a patient's My Health Record?
- What privacy and security access controls can be set?
The My Health Record system is underpinned by strong legislation and includes penalties for the unauthorised access, use and disclosure of patient health information. If you would like to provide feedback about Queensland Health’s handling of your My Health Record please contact your local Queensland Health facility.
For further information, including how patients can opt out of the My Health Record at any time, or cancel their My Health Record, contact the My Health Record system operator on 1800 723 471, or go to the My Health Record website.
In immediate danger? Call 000 now.
For 24/7 support and counselling, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
Call 1800 723 471 if you think your family's safety is at risk due to information in a My Health Record.
Find out more
AIHW appointed to manage and release datasets for the My Health Record secondary use of data The AIHW is proud to have been selected to manage and release My Health Record data for secondary purposes. The announcement reinforces our position as trusted, experienced managers of and leaders in data.
Using My Health Record for secondary purposes will open a range of possibilities to fill data gaps by allowing the health sector to better understand how Australia’s health system is used—as well as gaining valuable insights into the health outcomes for patients.
It is a significant new role for the AIHW, and we look forward to working closely with the Department of Health, the Australian Digital Health Agency and other stakeholders to build the evidence base and contribute to better health and wellbeing for all Australians, while upholding the strictest data quality and privacy standards.
For more information on the use of My Health Record data for secondary purposes: Framework to guide the secondary use of My Health Record system data
The first release of data is expected to commence from 2020, subject to the establishment of the Framework’s governance arrangements and technical infrastructure. The Framework will be subject to regular review – the first review will take place no later than two years after the first release of data.
https://www.aihw.gov.au/news-media/news/2018/may-2018/aihw-takes-on-custodianship-of-my-health-record-da
19 April, 2022