Carer Information

Being a carer is something people do not plan to do. If your partner has been diagnosed with an asbestos related disease the demands of caring will increase over time. For some people diagnosed with an asbestos related disease the decline is gradual, for others decline occurs in a matter of months or weeks.

The best care is "Care at Home" treatment for affected victims. This treatment is to relieve symptoms, reduce complication and improve quality of life. This may include dietary changes, drug and oxygen therapy, physiotherapy, daily physical activity (or passive exercises).

Looking After Yourself

Asking and accepting help can be difficult. In part this is due to past beliefs carers are selfish if they consider the needs of anyone other than the person being caring for. Fortunately in recent years there is growing community awareness of the needs of carers - for you to carry out your role as a carer you must maintain your own physical and emotional health. This may involve asking for assistance with day-to-day caring, taking time off from your caring duties and having a short time away from the person you are caring for.

Some of the health services you can access may include

         - Palliative care teams; most large hospitals have teams of specialists to provide both in-hospital and                out-patient care to relieve pain and provide symptom control;

         - Specialist teams include doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, pastoral carers, social workers,                bereavement counsellors and volunteers;

           - Carer Resource Centres;

           - Community Carers Respite Services.

Commonwealth Respite Centre - Giving carers a break

                  Commonweatlh Care Respite Centre - Ph: 1800 059 059

National Respite Association Inc.

National Respite Association Inc The Carrington Centre Box 3/2 Carrington Square, Campsie, NSW 2194 na Ph: (02) 9789 1348 - Fax: (02) 9789 3081 admin@nationalrespite.com.au
National Respite Association Staff
Executive Officer Kevin Michael Marron kevinm@nationalrespite.com.au	Training & Development Officer Edward Thomas edward.thomas@nationalrespite.com.au
Board Members
Metropolitan Representative Phil coller Anglicare Sydney PO Box 427, Parramatta NSW 2124 Ph: (02) 9895 8000 pcoller@anglicare.org.au	Metropolitan Representative Glenda Pearce Interchange Illawarra PO Box 5077 Wollongong. NSW 2500 Ph:(02) 4227-1079 glenda@interchangeillawarra.org
Metropolitan Representative Noeline Charters Civic Residential Services PO Box 2230 Taren Point NSW 2229 Ph: (02) 9524 3916 noelinec@civicres.com.au	Riverina Representative Vacant
Hunter Representative Vacant	Western Representative Fred Banning Broken Hill Respite Services PO Box 448 Broken Hill, NSW, 2880 Ph:(08) 8088 0011 disabilityservices@brokenhill.nsw.gov.au
South East Representative Sue Clements Southern Highlands Carer Respite Centre PO Box 90 Ph:(02) 6298 0140 susan.clements@qcc.nsw.gov.au	Northern Region Tanya Fox Inverell Disability Services Inc. PO Box 303 Inverell. NSW. 2360 Ph:(02) 6722-5548 tanyaf@nsw.chariot.net.au