INFORMAL AND FAMILY CARERS
Informal family or other unpaid carers play an essential role in supporting people to remain living in the community. But carers frequently lack the support they need to maintain their caring roles and their own health and wellbeing.
WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
UnitingCare Community Options provides a range of different services specifically aimed at family and informal carers. The majority of these services are delivered through our Commonwealth Respite and Carelink centre though our Direct2Care team can also help with information and referrals for carers of older people.
DIRECT2CARE
Do you need information about services for older people or assistance in being referred to a specific service? Direct2Care is a State and Federal-funded service auspiced by UnitingCare Community Options that aims to connect people to the aged-care services they require. While this service is not specifically set up for carers, staff from Direct2Care can provide information and arrange for guided referrals into services such as home help, formal care services, and meal delivery.
Find out more about Direct2Care
COMMONWEALTH RESPITE AND CARELINK CENTRE
Do you need help to access respite services? Are you in need of support to help you take a break or to otherwise help you with your caring role? UnitingCare Community Options provides Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre (CRCC) services throughout Melbourne’s East. Through the service, we can provide information, respite and other types of support, as well as respond to emergency respite needs (including after hours). A phone call is all it takes to get the assistance of our staff who can arrange immediate services or help planning a new way to meet your needs and those of the person you care for.
NATIONAL RESPITE FOR CARERS PROGRAM
The National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP) is part of the Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre and aims to support and assist relatives and friends caring at home for people who are unable to care for themselves because of disability or frailty. Our NRCP staff can help when you need to take a break from your caring role by arranging respite. They can provide information about services that can help you and can organise, purchase, and manage respite care assistance packages for carers including in-home respite care, support workers to assist you when you are taking a break away from home, and residential respite care.
Find out more about Planned Respite
CONSUMER-DIRECTED RESPITE CARE
The National Respite for Carers Program team now also deliver a limited number of Consumer-Directed Respite Care packages. These packages provide a similar amount of funding to that which is normally available through the Program, however they provide families with a far greater degree of choice and autonomy.
Find out more about CDRC packages
WHY CHOOSE US?
At UnitingCare Community Options, we work with you to help you get the assistance you need at home. Our services focus on your strengths and abilities as well as your needs. We help you imagine the life that you want and then work towards that goal.