WHAT is a carer? A carer is someone who provides unpaid care to another person who is frail, aged or has dementia or someone of any age who has a disability, mental illness, chronic or life limiting illness.

All carers are different, and each care relationship is unique.

Some carers provide significant care around the clock, others may provide transport to medical appointments, shopping, meals, advocacy, social or emotional support, this may be consistent or infrequent.

Carers can be any age, they may be a spouse or partner, relative, neighbour or friend.

A common misconception is that you have to live with the person you care for and provide round the clock support meaning many carers, particularly older carers, are unaware that they are eligible for support and can suffer burnout and poor mental and physical health.

Being a carer can be rewarding but it can also be incredibly stressful, challenging and isolating.

Coleraine’s Kerrie Jones has been a carer for her husband Keith Jones since 1998 when he was diagnosed initially with PTSD and major depression.

She said the caring role then took on another dimension and changed in 2017 when he was diagnosed with early onset Lewy Body dementia which required her to make a number of significant sacrifices.

“I was then not able to work,” Mrs Jones said.

“It went from where I could go out to work part time, to him needing care 24/7.

“I had to finish my job at Cavendish Primary School as business manager and stopped doing my volunteer ambulance community officer role in the Coleraine-Hamilton area.

“That’s just what you do - you don’t have an option.”

Things changed again in 2022, when Mr Jones had a fall at home which resulted in a broken bone.

“He then went into care full time as a 65-year-old,” Mrs Jones said.

But that didn’t mean Mrs Jones’ caring role ended and said there were still daily tasks requiring her attention. 

“There’s still daily phone calls, there’s a lot of administrative work to do, he still comes home three times a week,” she said.

“It may not be overnight but he still comes home - there is always something.

“Lewy Body dementia is very different to other dementias.

“They have periods of lucidity where they’re very aware of what is happening which can make them very frustrated.

“They know there’s things they can’t do that they used to be able to do - they can often believe there is nothing wrong with them.

“I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone.”

 In 2017, Mrs Jones’ daughter Simone also moved back home requiring care.

“She has significant mental health issues,” she said.

“So, there was a period of time that I was caring for them both.”

 When asked what she does in the way of relaxing and self-care, Mrs Jones said she found it difficult to stop.

“I’m a person who needs to keep doing things,” she said.

“I facilitate a carer’s group in Coleraine that covers the Coleraine, Cavendish and Casterton area.

“I’ve also undertaken education to learn about dementia and I babysit my grandchildren in between other things.”

Since her husband went into full time care, Mrs Jones has also been able to revert to doing ambulance volunteer work again.

Mrs Jones said that Mpower attends her carers’ support group meeting held on the second Wednesday of every month to offer support.

Established in 1975, Mpower Inc. is a not-for-profit organisation that provides a range of community service programs including carer support, disability support, early intervention services for children with a disability and NDIS plan management, with offices in Warrnambool, Hamilton and Portland. 

Mpower facilitates support groups in Coleraine and Hamilton each month to bring carers together for peer support and some much-needed time out and can provide respite funding, goods and equipment, information and referral to assist unpaid carers to do what they do.

Mpower is running two local events for the benefit of carers to give them some much needed timeout.

The events are called ‘Carefoot Bowls’ and will be held in Hamilton and Coleraine to connect carers with service providers and carer support groups.  

At both events, there will be a free barbecue, barefoot bowls, music, massages and lots of fun.

No bowling experience is necessary.

The Coleraine event will be held at the Coleraine Bowling Club, Turnbull Street, Coleraine, on Wednesday, March 20, 3.30-6.30pm.

The Hamilton event is at the Hamilton Bowling Club on Wednesday, April 17, 3.30-6.30pm at 90-92 Kennedy Street, Hamilton.

“Mpower provides support in many ways for our carers, through respite, transport, emergency crisis, fuel cards or food vouchers as well as education,” Mrs Jones said.

“They’re very valuable.”

Mrs Jones said being a carer was a vital role and one that was often overlooked by society including the government.

“We save the government a hell of a lot of money,” she said.

“Caring is a very long-term role.

“It can be a very rewarding role, but it is a very difficult role, not just for the carers, but the families of the person being cared for.

 “It can bring with it a lot of guilt - especially when it comes to the time when you have to put your loved one into a more formal (care) situation.”

Mrs Jones invited any carers in the community to come along to the carers’ support group meetings.

“It’s a two or three-hour break - one day out of a month where you can just sit down without the person they care for and enjoy a lunch or talk in a safe secure supported environment.

“We can even help with respite of the person they care for.

“We’ve fundraised so we can help do that for people - carers need to have that little break.”

Mrs Jones said she was looking forward to the ‘Carefoot Bowls’ event in Coleraine on March 20.

“Hopefully it will bring other carers out of the woodwork.

“A lot of carers try to do it on their own, especially men in the caring role who don’t usually stick their hand up and say I need help or support.

“Come along, see who else is around and enjoy a bit of time having fun, free food and a massage, and support for local carers.

“Do yourself a favour and get to know what is out there.”

At the conclusion of each Carefoot Bowls event, it is hoped a team can be formed to represent each club at a tournament in Warrnambool at a later date to further raise awareness of carers and the work that they do.

All local service providers, carers and community members are invited to attend.