Scenario 4: Caring for the carers
Scenario takeaway
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The well-being of your client is linked to their carers and vice versa.
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You can start to support the carer with dedicated carer Topics such “Looking after the carer’s health and well-being” and “Subsidies and support to help the carer"
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Outside dedicated carer Topics, there are many others Sections that can also help the carers, such as transport alternatives within the driving Topic, how to build a support network in Topic "Telling others about the diagnosis and building a circle of support", working and caregiving within the employment Topic and more.
Tasks to complete
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Think of a client’s carer who has not had a conversation with you about carer support and carer well-being
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Review some of the carer support and well-being Sections
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Book in a time to have a conversation with him/her about those suggestions and/or share the relevant Sections as needed. Also include this in their care plan if appropriate.
Scenario notes
As a passionate care manager, you review one of your client, Steven’s care plan regularly. You can also pay close attention to his carer, Sarah.
While your time is funded to manage Steven’s care package, you are aware that Steven’s well-being is affected by Sarah and vice versa. They come in a package.
When catching up with Sarah (and reviewing the list of Topics within the PRO), you realise that you haven’t discussed her well-being and how she’s coping so you decide to discuss the following Topics with her over the coming weeks.
Looking after Sarah's health and well-being
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Understanding Sarah's health is critical for everyone’s well-being. You can check-in with her and ask her to look after herself.
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You may go beyond that by referring her to resources to support her from the Topic “Looking after Sarah's health and well-being”, including how to manage stress and her feelings, tips to have better sleep, contact numbers for counseling services and taking regular breaks and respite etc.
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You can also reiterate that it is important to remind herself to do self-care regularly and set yourself a reminder to resend these Sections in the future to her.
Subsidies and support to help Sarah
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Carers are eligible for services and support. Use the Topic “Subsidies and support to help Sarah” as a guide, so you don’t miss anything.
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While Sarah may already have a Health Care Card and Carer Supplement organised, she may be eligible for other supports so you can share the rest of the sections with her, including the two different types of companion/carer card available in Victoria.
Telling others about the diagnosis and building a circle of support
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As Steven and Sarah haven't told many people about the diagnosis, you can briefly explain to her why it’s important to talk about it and build that circle of support. So, the more time that the friends and families can have to learn about it, what to do and how to support Steven and Sarah, the better it will be for them both in the future.
Carer support resources throughout many other Topics
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Support for carers such as Sarah are not only limited to the above Topics
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There are many Sections within other Topics that are also designed to support her, such as transport alternatives under the driving Topic, working and caregiving under the employment Topic and more.
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Please take your time and explore and share as appropriate!
Note
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The scenarios do not cover all of the content in My Dementia Companion, nor all the ways it could be used. Please keep exploring!
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All the information is curated from reputable sources that are designed for people like Jane and Bill. So, assess and if relevant, share with confidence!
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Handy user tips include: why learn dementia care, shortcuts/app icons, adding us to safe sender list, registration tips, sharing, extra tips and tricks
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Contact us if you have any questions via the “Questions?” button or the chat icon within the tool, email us or sms/call us 0406 257 729 during business hours.