Carers, caring and respite care services

More than 700,000 Victorians are a personal carer for a family member or friend who is older with care needs, has a disability or has a mental health or other chronic health condition...

The term ‘carer’ can refer to paid and unpaid, professional and ‘lay’ carers...

Even though you are caring for someone else, it is important that you remember to take care of yourself...

Carer roles can change, for example, from part-time to full-time care and back as a person’s care needs change...

You and your carers should expect clear communication about medical issues and treatment options and costs in hospital in a way that you can understand...

An emergency care plan is a set of instructions about caring for someone in the event that you are not able to...

Look after your emotional needs so you can continue your care role, be healthy and well and enjoy life as much as possible...

Care in culturally and linguistically diverse communities may be supported by extended family networks...

The Australian and Victorian Governments offer a number of carer support services to people who provide care to someone with a disability or mental illness, with a medical condition, after an illness...

The Continence Helpline is a free telephone advice service. It is staffed by continence nurses who can provide information, education and advice to callers with incontinence (bladder or bowel control...

Sexuality is a key part of human nature. Expressing sexuality in satisfying ways is important for everyone, including people with a disability. Some people with disability may need additional support...

Provides an overview of the financial and family support services available to foster carers, families providing permanent care and adoptive parents...

The Home and Community Care (HACC) program provides services to support older people with care needs, younger people with disabilities, and their carers...

If you are a carer, for example of a person with a disability or mental illness, or recovering from an accident or illness or an older person with care needs, you need to look after yourself or the...

Sexuality is a key part of human nature. Expressing sexuality in satisfying ways is important for everyone, including people with a disability. Some people with disability may need additional support...

Carers often organise appointments and treatments for the person they are caring for and help with medicines...

As circumstances change it is important to continually assess what services and home assistance will be most helpful...

The Home and Community Care (HACC) program provides services to support older people with care needs, younger people with disabilities, and their carers...

When caring for a loved one with a terminal illness, it is important to look after your own mental health and wellbeing so that you will have the energy and strength required for your role as carer...

The Continence Helpline is a free telephone advice service. It is staffed by continence nurses who can provide information, education and advice to callers with incontinence (bladder or bowel control...

Sexuality is a key part of human nature. Expressing sexuality in satisfying ways is important for everyone, including people with a disability. Some people with disability may need additional support...

Sexuality is a key part of human nature. Expressing sexuality in satisfying ways is important for everyone, including people with a disability. Some people with disability may need additional support...

Even though you are caring for someone else, it is important that you remember to take care of yourself...

Foster care is temporary care of children up to 18 years by trained, assessed and accredited foster carers...

Being a carer for someone with a mental illness can be emotionally and physically demanding, but it can also be a rewarding experience...

Care in culturally and linguistically diverse communities may be supported by extended family networks...

As a foster carer, you are providing a safe and supportive home for a child or teenager who can’t live with their family of origin. You may face challenges that affect you physically, emotionally and...

There will be times during your care role when you will need to adjust your role as the circumstances of both you and the person you care for change...

Ask a doctor and research health information when making a health decision. This will include the cost, timing and regularity of medical treatment...

You can appoint someone to be your medical power of attorney, also known as ‘enduring power of attorney (medical treatment)’, to make medical decisions on your behalf when, in certain circumstances...

Advance care planning can help the people close to you and those caring for you to know what is important to you about the level of healthcare and quality of life you would want...

Respect, consideration, recognition and support are some of the principles that guide how government departments, local councils and government-funded services work with carers and people who are...

Informed consent means that a person understands their condition and any proposed medical treatment and carers can help with the decision-making process...

Carers have the right to make a complaint on behalf of a person in their care to a healthcare professional, service or regulatory body...

If you are unhappy with the way a disability service has treated you, you have the right to complain and to have your concerns addressed...

There are laws that set out how healthcare professionals can collect and store your health information and when they are allowed to share it...

The Ombudsman looks into complaints about Victorian government departments...