6 minute read
She Cares
by Family Care
WE ARE CALLING FOR A BETTER RESPITE AND PAID FAMILY CARE SYSTEM WITH OUR CAMPAIGN!
Unpaid carers in New Zealand are twice as likely to be female, devoting an amazing average of 30 hours a week to caregiving on top of any paid work and other family commitments.
The choice to care for someone who is unwell, elderly, or has a disability or injury means many women suffer financially as a result; they earn 10% less than Kiwis without family caring responsibilities and can’t easily save for their own retirement – while saving the country billions of dollars.
To show them we value their contributions to family life, society, and the economy, we are rallying for a better respite and funded care system during 2018-19 with our She Cares campaign.
FIND OUT MORE AT OUR WEBSITE
WWW.SHE-CARES.ORG
Join our network - it’s free! By connecting with Carers NZ, we can keep you informed about issues important to all family carers. Contact us on 0800 777 797 or email centre@carers.net.nz
WWW.SHE-CARES.ORG
Women who care
Carers NZ’s awareness campaign this year is devoted to the thousands of New Zealand women caring for loved ones. Are you a woman carer? Order a free infopack to find out what help is available for you!
WHAT IS SHE CARES?
To show that we value the contributions that NZ’s overwhelmingly female force of family carers make to family life, society, and the economy, Carers NZ has launched She Cares, rallying for a better respite and funded care system. Unpaid carers in New Zealand are twice as likely to be female, devoting an average of 30 hours a week to caring for elderly, ill, or disabled friends and family members and often suffering financially as a result – while saving the country billions of dollars. Households of unpaid caregivers typically earn 10 percent less, while the conservative economic value of their unpaid work is $10.8 billion a year. That’s a big contribution! Yet women who care often can’t earn, they work below their experience and qualifications to support their families, and it’s hard for these carers to save for their own retirement. It’s an injustice that Carers NZ is seeking to change. If you are a woman carer, know that you are not alone, and that help may be available to support you in your caring role. Learn about available help by ordering a free Carers NZ infopack: phone 0800 777 797, or email centre@carers.net.nz
You can join Carers NZ’s network at no cost so we can keep you informed about news important to carers, and send helpful resources from time to time. Learn about inspiring women carers by visiting our campaign website, https:// she-cares.org We’re sharing some of our She Cares stories here, too.
For Ngaire Booth, the most challenging aspect of being a carer is the sense of isolation that it brings. Going through the pain of seeing her once energetic husband’s decline over the last 22 years from Parkinsons disease has been profound. “Being a carer for a loved one is the loneliest of journeys. I have often wished I could adequately explain to my bosses and my friends what I was going through.” After 36 years in Australia, they were able to relocate to their current home in Maungaturoto, where they have a dedicated and loving son. “He checks in on me every second night. He is so generous, and is amazing.”
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP A CARER?
Please join Carers NZ for our She Cares campaign and let a woman who cares know “it’s not all up to you”. Listen, ask if you can help, and make sure she gets the information and support she needs to stay well herself. Here are other ways to help!
• Order a free infopack! Individual carers and groups can order request packs: phone 0800 777 797, email centre@carers.net.nz
• Stay informed: connect with us at Facebook (facebook.com/CarersNZ)
• Are you a health professional or part of an organisation? Hold a fun event for women carers and let us know about it - we’ll help with promotion and provide free infopacks!
• Remind carers you know that they need regular time out and offer practical help: around the house and garden, by assisting with caring, transport, or even money to support the many costs of caring.
• Be proactive: organise an outing, cook a meal, or surprise her with flowers from the garden or a wee gift. We all like to be remembered and feel special!
Ngaire says the level of recognition and financial remuneration of carers is better over the ditch, possibly due to Australia’s larger population. “We need to mobilise more in New Zealand, to get our voices heard,” she says.
A BETTER CHANCE FOR JEANNETTE
Meletilini Logan first formed a strong bond with Jeannette Queensell-Logan when she was a few months old, however she feared the tiny baby wouldn’t make it through the night. Although she’d met Jeannette a few times, this was the first time Mele had stayed up all night with her. Born in 2014 to Jackie, a close member of the extended Logan family, late that year Jeannette was diagnosed with a major heart condition. On Christmas Eve there was a family meeting at Starship Hospital, where the cardiology team informed them that with her medical challenges, they couldn’t do anything more for Jeannette, and that she would have just a few months to live. “The meeting started when staff were leaving to prepare for their Christmas celebrations, and here we are waiting for the worst news,” she says, recalling that when they walked into the room, just looking at the cardiologist’s face set her heart pounding and tears flowing. “He said, I am sorry, I am sorry. Jeannette is not in a good position for any treatment or operation.” The baby’s 18 year old single mother was not in a position to provide the best outcomes for Jeannette, so the Logan family adopted the little girl to give her a better chance within their rock solid family. Jeannette was legally adopted, and now lives in Auckland with her adopted parents and five siblings, fighting through many surgical procedures and cardiac arrests. “I have been away at least six months each year from work to be with Jeannette in the hospital.” “I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve called my family here in New Zealand and from Tonga to come over to say their final goodbyes for Jeannette.” Despite all this, Mele says Jeannette is “a very happy girl and easygoing, who makes the most of everything. She hardly complains and has a strong will to fight back no matter what.” Balancing her job with being Jeannette’s primary carer has been difficult for Mele. “I have been away a lot from work. My husband has a few days off here and
there, but he has to work to pay our mortgage and the bills.” Mele wouldn’t be able to do this if it weren’t for the supportive manager of the government department she works for, who treats staff like family members. “I am so grateful that I have her as a manager because most carers that I know have lost their jobs due to taking too much time away from work. I will never ever forget her support.” Even with an understanding manager, there are challenges. “As a carer, you are at a disadvantage when it comes to even considering applying for higher positions. You can’t put in the hours required, because when your disabled loved ones are sick, you will be away from work. And you’re working hard out to make up for time lost, but it’s still not good enough.” She says she also wouldn’t survive
without the support of her other children. “They are able to run her feed and change the tubes.” “My two older kids know how to draw her medication and all of them know when to give it to her; my older daughter can change Jeannette’s nappy.“
“At times I think that we can’t survive as a family when Jeannette has so often been hospitalised over the years.” “But no matter how busy we are, we still find time for more things to do or attend together, and we can’t believe how much more resilient and stronger we are as a family.”
“Having Jeannette has opened my heart, and so my family and I are able to see the positives in everything. Also, she’s strengthening my cultural upbringing and values as a Tongan mother.” “I have to be the main core root to hold us all together and try to balance out life.”
Giveaway time!
As part of our She Cares campaign, we’re giving away three pamper gift baskets filled with treats, worth $150 each! If you are a family carer or would like to nominate a woman carer you know, email their details to supportteam@carers.net.nz
LET A WOMAN WHO CARES KNOW
“IT’S NOT ALL UP TO YOU”
PLEASE JOIN CARERS NZ FOR OURCAMPAIGN
We are sending free infopacks to women carers during our campaign.
To order a pack, please contact us on 0800 777 797 or email centre@carers.net.nz
You can order bulk packs for carers in your network, They contain resources every carer should know about, plus some fun surprises!
WWW.SHE-CARES.ORG
