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Government information for family carers
21 May 2020
Carers are important and make a significant contribution to the quality of the lives of the friends, family, whānau and aiga members they care for. Caring is at the heart of a compassionate community and underpins who we are and what we value. Carers’ work is of huge social and economic value to New Zealand. This resource provides current information, services and activities as at 21 May 2020, that are available to help you in your important role as a carer during the COVID-19 response. Information is being updated regularly so it is important to keep checking the recommended sites.
Carers are working hard in the COVID-19 response
Carers’ roles have been more challenging during New Zealand’s response to the worldwide COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. You are performing a key frontline role in keeping things together in your families, whānau and aiga and we acknowledge and value you.
There’s lots of helpful information for carers
We’ve brought this information together to make it easy for you to understand what support and advice the Government knows carers need at this time –so you don’t have to treasure hunt for links, advice, and answers. Information does change, so please check links supplied for the most up to date information and particularly at these government websites: https://covid19.govt.nz/and https://www.health.govt.nz/ We know that you may be doing more than usual, so we are thinking of you in how we provide information, funding and how you access services and respite. Some of the answers are evolving and we will work with Carers NZ and the Carers Alliance to keep you informed.
Health and disability
How to protect yourself and the people you care for Some people are more vulnerable to certain illnesses. This can include the people we look after as carers and some of us who are carers. There are simple steps you can take to protect you and your family, whānau and aiga. Good hygiene is very important - regularly wash and thoroughly dry your hands, and cough and sneeze into your elbow. It’s also important to stay home if you feel unwell. Physical distance from other people who we don’t know or see regularly, is also important. The idea of the ‘bubble of protection’ around vulnerable people, and those they have contact with, is vital in preventing and managing the risk of COVID-19 infection and its complications. In Alert Levels 3 and 4, we stayed home as much as possible and limited travel. Now bubbles can expand, we need to carefully manage our bubbles so that those who are more vulnerable can continue to be protected. More information about how to protect yourself and others is available here
People at higher risk Information for people considered at higher risk of the effects of COVID-19 and for their family, whānau and aiga is available here
Caring for yourself and others with COVID-19 at home Information on caring for yourself and others who have, or may have, COVID-19 at home can be found here
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) You may have thought about PPE (masks, gloves, gowns etc) and whether it’s needed to protect you, and the person you care for, from the virus. The good news is that the risk of community exposure to COVID-19 has fallen significantly and we are now in Alert Level 2. After extensive testing there is no evidence of community spread. PPE is not always needed. The first line of defence to reduce your risk of getting or spreading COVID-19 continue to be what we have done so well - physical distancing, good hand washing and drying, coughing or sneezing into your elbow, staying home if sick and carefully managing your protective bubble of people. If you regularly use PPE like gloves and aprons in your care for another person, carry on getting it in the same way. If you also want to use a mask, talk with the person or organisation you get your other PPE from. If you are unable to get a mask or other PPE from your usual supplier, you can order and purchase this through the non-government PPE ordering process at www.nxp.nzor from pharmacies and other suppliers. There are recognised standards (AS/NZS1716) that face masks must meet to be considered appropriate for use in health care and they must be worn correctly and in the appropriate context. If you choose to purchase and wear a mask, or make your own mask, it’s important to remember that if they are not used properly, they can increase the risk of infection. Masks should be put on and taken off in the right way and disposed of safely. Here you can find Frequently Asked Questions about PPE and how to wear it and information on PPE use
in healthcare and latest updates
Infection prevention and control advice, including about PPE, will be updated as needed, so please check the websites.
Caring for older people You can find information specifically for older people and their families, whānau and aiga during the COVID19 response here
Supporting a person with dementia Living with dementia at any time is challenging. There can be additional stress and pressure in the COVID-19 response. More information for family, whānau, aiga carers and supporters of people with dementia who are living at home on how to stay well under different Alert Levels is available here
Caring for disabled people Information for disabled people and their families, whānau, aiga and carers during the COVID-19 response, as well as links to accessible formats, is available here
Hospice patient and end-of-life care Guidance and information for people who receive hospice care in home and community settings to reduce the impact and spread of COVID-19 is available here
Parents A wide range of information and links to help you care for your tamariki, rangatahi and whānau including explaining COVID-19, Well Child Tamariki Ora, parents with babies, whānau Māori, advice, supportand resources is available here
Alert Level changes and what they mean At each Alert Level, services open further, provided they can operate safely. Information on these changes will be available at each Alert Level and we will keep you informed. We are nowin Alert Level 2.
Alert Level 2 Health and disability services Here you can find Alert Level 2 questions and answers and detailsof what is happening with Health and
disability services at Alert Level 2
Getting disability support during COVID-19 There is plenty of information and guidelines for disabled people, and their families, whānau, aiga and carers, on disability support services at Alert Level 2. Information is available on: day services, respite, community residential services, people who employ their own support workers (individualised funding, personal budgets), home and community support services, choice in community living and supported living, hearing, vision, equipment, behaviour supportand NASC appointments here More information on Carer Support, guidance for disabled people and whānau who employ their own support workers, paying resident family carers, Funded Family Care, what to do if yoursupport worker does not turn up, and behaviour support services from Explore, is available here
Welfare and social sector support
Food banks Food banks and food rescue organisations are continuing to operate at Level 2 while meeting social distancing, hygiene and contact tracing requirements. Some foodbanks also provide frozen cooked food that just needs to be heated thoroughly. To find your local foodbank, visit https://www.foodbank.co.nz
Civil Defence and Emergency Management Food and Essential items Your Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group is working with food banks and other organisations to make sure that those in need are able to access food and other essential items. If you have an urgent need for items such as food, over-the-counter medications or cleaning supplies and you don’t have the means or transport to get it yourselves, you can contact your local Civil Defence and Emergency Group (CDEM) for help. This service is intended for people and whānau who don’t have any other options available to them. It operates 7 days a week from 7am to 7pm. You can find the number to your local CDEM here
Whānau Ora Whānau Ora is providing community support to the most vulnerable whānau and can be contacted here
Wellbeing A free national mental health and addiction support service is available 24/7- call or text 1737. Manaaki20 keeps whānau connected and informed: https://www.manaaki20.org/
Support for Work and Income clients
Work and Income clients who have a payment card can access direct support through MyMSD. To see what kind of support you might be eligible for, log in to MyMSD here. Follow the steps and call the number you are directed to. If you need help you can call 0800 559 009. You may be eligible for financial help from Work and Income for: • food • accommodation costs (rent, mortgage, board, emergency housing) • repairs or replacing appliances • emergency dental treatment • emergency medical treatment • health travel costs • water tank refill Information related to COVID-19 support is available here Information on carer focused support is available here Information on the full range of financial help at Work and Income website can be found here
Employer Wage Subsidy If you have a paid job outside of your carer role, you may also be eligible for the wage subsidy scheme. Talk to your employer to see if they have applied for the scheme and if you are eligible for the payment. For more information on how the wage subsidy might apply to your place of employment is available here Employers who have been significant impacted by COVID-19 may qualify for an extension to the wage subsidy. This will be available from 10 June 2020 until 1 September. You can find out more here
Keeping up to date
Please keep checking the key government sites for more information on the COVID response:
What other information do you need?
If you have questions or other information you would like to see as a carer, please get in touch through:
