Your changing role

You can talk with the person you care for, to ask what they would like. You can talk with your family and doctor about the options available. 

You can put things in place to make it easier to make changes over time. For example, someone else could step in to have guardianship or power of attorney for the person you currently care for, and you could start to organise that.

If you can’t provide care any more

For whatever reason, at some time you might not be able to continue to look after the person you care for.

If that happens, you have 2 main choices.

You can get help with care in your home

Many organisations have services that provide care in your home. Home care support workers can help with caring, including washing, dressing, moving and meals. Workers might come to your home every day, or they can live with you.

Home care can support you and the person you care for to stay in your home. However, sometimes the person might need more care than can be provided at home.

Residential care

There are several other places the person you care for could live and be supported, depending on their condition:

• Residential aged care can provide accommodation and personal care 24 hours a day as well as access to nursing and health care services for elderly people
• Residential disability care can provide accommodation and support to people with disability or mental illness
• Hospice care focuses on quality of life for people who are experiencing an advanced, life limiting illness 

How to get help in your caring role

Call Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737 about services and support available to you.

The person you care for may be eligible for help through My Aged Care if they are elderly (call 1800 200 422), or the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), if they have a disability (call 1800 800 110).