A fiesta for carers at Carinity Communities – Our House
Although there will soon be landmark changes to how care is provided to people with disability, the nation’s 635,000 carers will continue to play a crucial role in shaping the quality of care Australia delivers.
Brisbane Valley carers will be celebrated through an event at Carinity Communities – Our House during Carers Week, which runs from 13 to 19 October.
Local carers are among the 262,000 around Australia who provide more than 40 hours a week of care to people with disability.
Client Services Coordinator at Carinity Communities – Our House, Maggie Poole, said Carers’ Week is an opportunity to acknowledge carers in our community.
“The carers I meet have genuine passion about helping people they love. Yet it can sometimes be a lonely role, and it gives them strength to know the community is behind them,” she said.
“I am in awe at the humour and goodwill they show to everyone. They are husbands or wives, mothers or fathers, and they just think they are doing what they are supposed to do.”
Carinity Communities – Our House, at Toogoolawah, provides group-based day respite activities and 24-hour respite care to people with disability.
Its caring staff are dedicated to changing lives for the better by also running life skills courses, in-home care, and a carers’ support group.
Ms Poole says the support group has successfully brought local carers together.
“The carers share their stories and offer each other encouragement and support. They form close bonds, and often communicate with each other outside the group for some help or a listening ear.
“If any issues or problems are mentioned at our meetings, we can also source service providers for additional assistance,” she said.
Carinity Communities – Our House has teamed up with Carers Queensland to host a Carers Week celebration at 27 Gardner Street in Toogoolawah on Thursday, 17 October, from 11:00am to 1:00pm.
Including an outdoor barbeque and local entertainment, it will feature service providers who may be of assistance to carers.
Ms Poole also says there are simple ways the community can show appreciation for carers.
“Once in a while, if someone else cooked a meal, mowed the lawn, offered to get something from the shops, or helped when they had appointments, they would certainly be grateful.
“It’s not difficult, and it could also be a rewarding experience for the person helping,” Ms Poole concluded.
4430.0 Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings, 2009. The Australian Bureau of Statistics. Released 13 February 2012. http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4430.0Main+Features12009?OpenDocument
