Carers with heart

Carolyn Roberts knows all too well what it’s like to be a carer. She cared for her husband who had a rare type of Parkinson’s disease for more than six years.

“It takes a lot lot of adjustment and commitment to be a carer and many who are faced with that journey are not prepared for it,” she says.

“The journey is often a lonely one filled with a roller coaster of emotions like guilt for not being able to do enough, or sadness just watching your loved one in a state of decline. There is regret, anger, frustration, worry, anxiety, grief, and loss. Having a good support network made my journey a lot easier.”

After her husband passed away, Carolyn stepped in to help some of her friends who were unwell. She took them to medical appointments, ran errands, and, every now and then helped give a friend a break from their caring role, so that they could have some time out for themselves.

In her role as President of the Glasshouse Mountains Neighbourhood Centre, she began to notice more and more people falling through the already overstretched care system and in need of support.

Carolyn says “The common complaint was: ‘I have been assessed by My Aged Care and I have been approved for support, but no one is able to assist me because they have no more funding to take on any more clients.’ Accessing private support for many is an expensive option.” This was the catalyst that prompted Carolyn to take action. With the support of friends, she set up the Carer Assist Program. The program is about getting the community to work together to help each other. Then we match them to someone who needs assistance. Our helpers provide support with transport to attend medical appointments, provide shopping support, run errands, help prepare meals and give carers a break”.

“Those taking up the support are happy to give a little gift in return to cover the cost of petrol just like you would do if a friend helped you. Some even gift a cake or a meal!”.

Carolyn’s program has picked up momentum and her team has seen some wonderful results. Recently they had a gentleman who was undergoing radiation treatment. He was losing weight, quite down about his health, and was very lonely.

Her ladies rallied around him. They spent time with him, made him soup, and even whipped up a special dessert to help him put on weight!

He would look forward to their visits. And Carolyn said “When the nurses at the treatment centre informed us he had put on weight we were all delighted - practically highfiving each other. And at the end of his treatment, we were all treated to a wonderful morning tea!”

As Eunice Kennedy Shiver said: “In a caring community, the quality of care we give to our parents, brothers and sisters, families, friends, neighbours, and to the poor and powerless, endows peoples’ lives in a community with respect, hope, and happiness.”

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