Allied health professionals and you
Time out
Everybody needs time out every now and then. The system refers to it as ‘respite’. Respite can be for a few hours, or maybe for a week or two. It can be in your home, or it can be somewhere else. It helps you both, and gives you get a bit of breathing space.
Again, social workers and anybody who regularly works with people with dementia are good people to start with.
Talk to
Social worker
Norma's story
Norma cares for her husband Todd. While she finds it manageable, she needs a break. She’s been using two different services, depending on her needs. She can get up to three hours per week respite at home when a carer comes to visit, or she can get more by taking Todd to a respite service for a full day, or even overnight. While she’s been using respite intermittently, the respite service has recommended that she take Todd there each Friday to give herself a scheduled break.
"It is what it is. There’s no point wishing it was any other way. But I couldn’t do it without respite."
The National Dementia Helpline is an Australian Government funded initiative.