The Domestic Purposes Benefit can be paid to people providing full time care for someone who would otherwise need to be in residential care.

A Doctor needs to fill in part of the application form to verify the person's condition and the carer needs to be over 16 years of age. More information here

For further enquiries, telephone 0800 559 009

A great support/information for carers is the www.carers.net.nz

The National Carers Strategy 2008

For most situations with older people, carer support can be assessed through the Needs Assessment Service. If the person with the disability does not have an age-related condition, but has psychiatric, sensory, intellectual or physical disability,then they should be assessed by the appropriate assessor.

For people with a personal health problem, e.g. heart disease, cancer etc the local doctor can make the assessment for Carer Support.

Caring for another person on a full time basis can be stressful in some situations,and can severely restrict the independence of the carer.The Carer Support Scheme has been established to help give carers a much needed break,so they can continue with their caring tasks.

LOOKING AFTER THE CARERS

With the growth emphasis on"Ageing in Place" and helping people in the community, there is a consequent increase in the number of carers. Carers are usually family members who care for people at home, often with some sacrifice to their own independence. People can suddenly become carers (e.g. when a partner has a stroke) or can gradually assume more of a caring role (e.g. where a family member has dementia).

You may be entitiled to Work and Income assistance for this see here for more information

Ministry of Health Information

Often caring becomes a 'lonely' experience,with fewer outside people to talk with.The caring task can be physically and emotionally exhausting.

Caring can involve being restricted to home for long periods, performing many 'personal cares' for people and often missing out on relaxation and leisure activities. Furthermore most help coming into the home is directed at the person with the disability or frailty, and the carer is often left without support.

Anxiety levels can build up for carers without them really being aware of increasing stress. The following are tell-tale signs to watch out for:

• Feeling anxious much of the time
• Not being able to sleep effectively
• Reacting aggressively to others
• Feeling constantly restless
• Feelings of guilt
• Being overwhelmed by tasks, decisions or activities that would normally be routine
• Feelings of anger, frustration or resentment
• Changes in health, e.g. nausea, headaches, flu symptoms, aches and pains, weight loss, weight gain etc.
• Losing motivation,finding excuses for not associating with others
• Frequent changes of mood
• Increased use of alcohol, cigarettes etc.
• Strained relationships with family and friends

Carers can often feel stressed, angry, frustrated and isolated.Talking to someone who understands can be helpful. Some organisations have established support groups, and do provide individual support and advice. Some specific groups offer some help to Carers, e.g. Alzheimer's Society, Stroke Club, Arthritis Foundation, Parkinson's Society etc.

These and other Societies are listed in the "Health Support Groups" in your area.

• Tauranga/Mount Maunganui/Papamoa Health Support groups
• Katikati Health Support groups
  
• Te Puke Health Support groups
  
• Taranaki Health Support groups
  
• Horowhenua Health Support groups
  

Carers need to have a life too! In some cases the person with the disability makes demands on their carer, so they feel guilty about taking time out and having their own individual activity or interest. In general, carers should have their own activity which is special to them - it is just a small way in which carers can have a life of their own.

Understanding the provisions of relief is very important, especially Carer Support and Respite Care.There may be other services that can be accessed to give the carer a break, such as day care, night sitter services. Carers should also ensure they receive entitlements to Home Support, Disability Allowance and rails and aids in the home (see Occupational Therapists below).  You may be entitiled to some asistance with equipment see here for  more information

For local Occupational Therapists see

• Tauranga/Mount Maunganui/Papamoa Occupational Therapists
• Katikati Occupational Therapists
  
• Te Puke Occupational Therapists
  
• Taranaki Occupational Therapists
  
• Horowhenua Occupational Therpaists
  

CARER SUPPORT AND RESPITE CARE are an important provision for people being cared for at home by an unpaid carer. For older people the unpaid carer is usually a spouse, or a son or daughter.

The scheme provides alternative care for the person with the disability so the carer can have a break. The maximum number of days that can be paid for in any one year is 28. The scheme is funded by the Ministry of Health.

In order to qualify the person must have a 'physical, psychiatric, intellectual, sensory or age related disability (or a combination of these) which is likely to continue for a minimum of 6 months.

People can choose how they will use their entitlement, for example some may choose to go to a rest home, others may choose to have a family member to provide care in their own home or someone else's home.

The daily payment rates are different for each category: Informal Carers (including family members): $75.00. Formal Providers (e.g. Rest Homes,Voluntary Organisations): $85.00

When family members provide relief care, payment can only be made if the full time carer actually receives a break.

Ministry of Health information

Respite Care is a service for people over the age of 65 with "age related" disabilities.The scheme generally caters for people with heavy care needs where greater relief care is needed beyond the Carer Support Scheme.

There are two types of Respite Care available:

• a) Rotational Respite is allocated on a rostered basis to enable caregivers to have regular scheduled breaks, for example a 2:10 roster means that the caregiver has a two week break every 10 weeks.
• b) One Off Respite: these days are allocated when a one-off situation arises, for example the caregiver my be hospitalised or the client themselves may become unwell.

Respite Care is funded by the Ministry of Health, and is provided in a rest home or hospital setting. There is a limited allocation and strict guidelines for entry.  More information.

To access the service, people need to contact their local Needs Assessment and Co-ordination Service (NASC).

Find your local NASC Agency:
Tauranga and Surrounds - Support Net
Taranaki - Access Ability
Horowhenua - Support Links

• Tauranga/Mount Maunganui/Papamoa
• Katikati
• Te Puke
• Taranaki
• Horowhenua
  

In most cases Respite Care is offered to those people who are cared for by others, but in some situations can be offered to individuals who live alone. People receiving Respite Care will usually have other Disability Support Services in place. It can not be offered simply for convalescent care or because people are unwell, but is usually part of a programme to enable people to be maintained in the community.

View places that offer Respite Care in your area.

• Tauranga/Mount Maunganui/Papamoa Respite Care
• Katikati Respite Care
  
• Te Puke Respite Care
  
• Taranaki Respite Care
  
• Horowhenua Respite Care