Millions of Reasons to Care – National Carers Week 16 – 22 October 2022

This week is National Carers Week, a chance to recognise the 2.65 million carers who provide care and support for a family member or friend. 

This year’s theme Millions of Reasons to Care is about bringing attention to all the carers across Australia, acknowledging the ongoing support they need from the community and businesses. 

National Carers Week is an initiative of Carers Australia, funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services, coordinated with the assistance and participation of the National Carer Network. 

The importance of carers

A carer has a special role, looking after the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of either a family member or friend. It takes patience, dedication, compassion and understanding. As members of the Gold Coast community we are grateful for everything carers do for their loved ones and truly appreciate everything they contribute to our community. 

In turn, the team at HillView Care want to highlight the need for businesses and other organisations to help carers however they can to give them ongoing support while they are caring for their loved ones. 

Carers often put the needs of others before their own and sometimes forget to dedicate time to their own self care. This week we want to give all carers the reminder how important it is to care for yourself while caring for others. 

5 ways to care for yourself while caring for others

As a carer you may need a reminder every now and then to look after yourself. Here’s a few ways you can practice self care. 

 Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.

• Connect with others via support groups or friends in similar situations. 
• Ensure you get enough sleep every night. 
• Exercise regularly. 
• Practice meditation and mindfulness to reduce anxiety and relax.

This week we want to encourage everyone to recognise the value of carers and everything they contribute. We want to let them know how much they are truly appreciated for all they do. 

Respite at HillView Care

Everybody needs a break from time to time and respite care is especially important for those who are caring for loved ones full-time. It gives you valuable time to rest and reset and spend time doing things for yourself.

To help carers keep a good balance between looking after themselves and looking after others, we offer respite care from our residential aged care homes in Merrimac and Ashmore. 

Whether it’s for a few days, or a few weeks, you’ll have the peace of mind knowing your loved one is being cared for in a supportive and caring environment at HillView Care. 

Residents in respite care receive all the same support and access to all the same services as permanent HillView Care residents. This includes: 

• 24/7 support from a professional medical team. 
• On-site, chef-prepared meals. 
• Quality accommodation.
• Help with personal care such as bathing and dressing. 
• A variety of fun events and activities. 
• A strong sense of community. 

We truly do have millions of reasons to care about recognising the contribution of carers. 

If you’d like to find out more about respite care at HillView Care Merrimac or Ashmore, contact the team online or request a callback and one of our friendly team members will be in touch. Alternatively, book your own personal tour to have a look around our Gold Coast aged care homes.