I’m just tired… tired of fighting over enthusiastic community nurses and their leaders; tired of trying to communicate with people that are just TOO busy; tired of trying to get some help and support… ANY SUPPORT, I’m just tired. They say carers have to take care of themselves, they need to find time for themselves… Easier said then done.
I can quite see how our older population end up in aged care facilities. Trying to access assistance can be one long frustrating process. The Government wants the aged to stay in their own homes for as long as possible yet doesn’t provide them with the means to do so… sorry, I’m wrong, they do provide the means to do so.. they just make it very difficult to access.
Take Ma for example. I take care of all her personal needs: I shower her, wash her hair, do her nails, take her to all her appointments, shop, cook and clean up etc. We access one and a half hours of housework a fortnight. With Ma’s deterioration she underwent an assessment with ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team) back in early June where she was approved for a Home Care Package Level 3 and 4 which supports somebody with medium to high-level needs. This would have given us access to somebody to call in during the day. Yeah, I thought! Peace of mind so I can go to work and know that somebody will call in to see Ma during the day. Unfortunately this level of care has a waiting list… so after a month, I ring to see whether we can access care anytime soon. No vacancies I’m told! You basically have to wait until someone goes ‘off’ before a vacancy becomes available. Really? So, this is the Government that wants people to stay in their own homes? The more care you need, the less likely you are going to be able to access it. Maybe if they made care available there might be less people going into nursing homes.
All I want is somebody to call in on Ma so I can work a full week at work and not get stressed out of my brain worrying something might happen to her when the delirium strikes and I’m not there. Is that too much to ask?
aged carer experience 