Caring for an older person at home can be a rewarding and important job. It can involve helping with a range of day-to-day activities and taking on responsibilities such as banking and shopping. You may also give emotional support and be someone they can talk with.
It can be a big change in your life to be someone’s carer. It's important to know that there is information and support if you need it.
What support can I get as a carer?
There are services available to support you in your caring role. These include counselling, financial support and advocacy.
Carer Gateway
Carer Gateway provides free services and support for carers, such as peer support, counselling and online skills courses. It provides information and support in person, over the phone and online.
Find out more about Carer Gateway.
Respite care
Respite care may also be available. This allows you to take a break or get to your appointments and activities. While you take a break, the person you care for is looked after at home, in a community centre or in an aged care home. This includes planned and emergency respite options.
Find out more about respite care.
Help at home
The person you're caring for may benefit from some help at home, including:
- home maintenance and repairs
- home adjustments, such as installing handrails
- equipment and products, such as a walking frame or a raised toilet seat
- meals, such as home delivery or help with food preparation in the person’s own home
- nursing care, such as wound care or help with medicines
- domestic assistance, such as cleaning and laundry
- transport, such as taking people to appointments or helping them with their shopping, and vouchers for taxis
- allied health, such as occupational therapy and physiotherapy.
Find out more about services that provide help at home.
Tips for caring for someone at home
There may be small changes you can make to the layout of a home to make it safer and more comfortable. To help the person you care for move around:
- arrange furniture to give plenty of room to walk around and keep the space uncluttered
- remove loose rugs and seal carpet edges that may be tripping hazards.
Back injuries are a common concern for carers. If you need to lift the person you care for, such as from a chair to a bed, make sure you’re lifting in the correct way. Ask the health care workers you deal with to assess your circumstances.
An occupational therapist, physiotherapist or community nurse can help work out the safest way to lift or move the person you care for. They can also tell you about equipment or products to help with lifting.
You could also consider developing emergency plans such as:
- other options for the person you care for if you become ill or have an accident
- an evacuation plan, especially if the person you care for has limited mobility
- an emergency care kit with contact cards and information.
You can also ask your local fire authority for advice about how to evacuate. If needed, you can ask an electrician about the correct installation of smoke detectors.
You can find out more about planning care and safety in the house on the Carer Gateway website.