Australian Carers Guide WA

The Australian Carers Guide is our countries first and only publication focusing on you, the informal family carer. The overarching theme of our content and the resources and services we provide is all tempered with your physical, financial, mental, spiritual, and emotional wellbeing. The Australian Carers Guide is a new and independent quarterly publication created specifically for today’s family carers especially those caring for their aging parent, spouse or an elderly loved one. The ACG is jam packed full of practical and helpful content that is simple to read and designed to help you navigate through the caregiving journey. We achieve this by confronting the most common challenges and offer a new and fresh approach that will help ease the burdens. We deliver unique insights, creative solutions and helpful perspectives that will make a real difference in your daily life. Paul Koury - Publisher

This Issue’s Contributors

publisher’s message • Hello readers and welcome to the Winter 2022 edition of the Australian Carers Guide. Thank you to those who have called or written in to express your appreciation for our guide. We are continually humbled by your comments and appreciate your feedback. It is truly a labour of love for us as we work to ensure that all carers can find practical, educational and helpful content all in one place. Our mission remains to reach and support as many of our 1.3 million primary carers as we can.

Exclusive ​Subscription Offer

ABOUT AUSTRALIAN CARERS GUIDE

Australian Carers Guide WA

THE Scoop • TIPS, WISE ADVICE AND HELPFUL UPDATES

HOUSE PLANTS • THAT ARE GOOD FOR YOU

We’ve got mail

5 overlooked benefits of respite care • When you’re a carer for someone who needs support, it’s a big responsibility. It can be easy to put their needs ahead of your own, but it is essential to engage in self-care to maintain your health at the same time. It can feel equally overwhelming to be in need of a carer and to place your health and safety in the hands of a loved one. Respite care in Australia exists to help carers refresh and revitalise themselves and to help those needing care to continue receiving quality care during this time.

Tips for overcoming common obstacles to respite care in Australia • Both receiving and giving long-term care can sometimes be challenging. When you care for someone long-term, it can be hard to let someone help. It can seem easier to do it yourself rather than involving someone else. As a care recipient, it can feel like you are giving control of your life to someone else. It’s important to remember that support is available and it can improve both of your lives. These tips aim to help carers and care recipients overcome some common obstacles.

The Power of Human Connection • Loneliness is a growing epidemic impacting seniors across the country. 1 in 4 older Australians are lonely, which greatly impacts their physical health, mental health, and overall wellbeing.

Living with aphasia

Diabetes: 6 steps to healthier eating • How choosing the right food can help you manage your diabetes

Abuse is Abuse If you see something, say something • The National Elder Abuse Prevalence Study: Final Report released in December 2021 by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS), tells us that abuse is experienced by an estimated 14.8% of people over the age of 65, equating annually to more than 200,000 older people being directly impacted.

What happens when your parents DIE IN DEBT? • Children are often concerned about what happens with their parents’ debts should they pass away. A common concern is that the family may be personally responsible for the repayment of Mum and Dad’s debts.

Myths & Warning Signs of Dementia • Confronting the Myths

Travelling &...