Caring Mums Receive a Pampering
National Carers Week took place between the 19th and the 25th of October. To celebrate amazing carers in the Inner West ANGLICARE treated some of their Support Coordination Carers to beauty treatments at the Island of Bliss Clinic in Gladesville.
The ANGLICARE Support Coordination Program provides information and assistance to older parents aged sixty five years and above, who have an adult son or daughter with a disability living with them. The program is based in Ashfield and covers the entire Inner West region.
Marianne Wilcox, Coordinator of the ANGLICARE Support Coordination Program, says the program provides more than just a break away from the role of caring.
“Our program aims to provide more than just the ‘quick fix’ of respite - a few hours here and there so the carer can get to the post office or buy some groceries. The program arranges activities for carers that help them to focus on looking after and thinking about their own needs and interests”.
“We really try to equip our parents with various skills and support networks to promote social skills and independent living for their son or daughter”. We understand that these mums want to care for their children for as long as is realistically possible and we want to help honour their wish,” Ms Wilcox said.
The pampering sessions are a great way to bring other carers together for support and friendship. The carers learn to perform facials using items found in the kitchen, including rice bran oil, paw-paw and yoghurt.
Ms Wilcox says the pamper days give the carers some quality time to themselves.
“So often Carers are the type of people who consider their family’s needs before their own – They are so busy they often forget to look after themselves”.
ANGLICARE’s Support Coordination Program would like to invite anyone to make a referral, including healthcare professionals, carers and family members.
For more information about this service please contact the ANGLICARE Support Coordination Program on 02 9799 8622.
