I am caring for someone:
Who has Dementia
A dementia diagnosis can be challenging and a little daunting for both the person experiencing dementia and their carers. Our care planning team can help you understand what might lie ahead and put supports in place for you and the person you care for.
For you
Social Groups for Carers and Others
Events and groups you can attend with the person you care for
Carers ACT provides social connection programs and groups for anyone with a My Aged Care social connection code. Our groups team organise a range of activities to cater for different interests and cultural groups.
While our focus is always on Carers and their wellbeing, we understand that most people will at some point on their life provide unpaid care to a family or friend. Social groups are one way we can help to build resilient, connected communities and foster support networks.
Our social groups are accessible to anyone with a social support code through My Aged Care (over 65’s or over 55s for First Nations people).
Contact Groups Team See current social groupsPeer Support Groups
Peer Support Groups can help you make connections with other carers who understand and improve your wellbeing.
Carers ACT runs regular in-person support groups in north and south Canberra.
See our Support Groups
Prefer to connect online?
Carer gateway offers online peer groups.
Online self-paced services
Carer Skills
The Carer Gateway provides online Carer Skills courses offering information, insights and practical tips to help you develop new understanding and skills important in your caring role.
Self-guided Coaching Service
The online Carer Gateway Self-guided Coaching Service provides you with the opportunity to explore how your caring role affects different areas of your life.
Go to Self-paced CoachingSocial Groups
Sharing stories, knowledge and experience with other carers can remind you that you’re not alone. You can do this with people in your area by finding an event for you.
Carers ACT runs many special interest groups for carers and the people they care for.
See Groups & Activities
Coaching
Coaching
Coaching is about taking time out to think about your own wellbeing and consider how you can find space in your life to balance your needs and the needs of the people you care for.
Work one-on-one with a coach to identify, explore and move towards your own personal goals.
Delivered by Carers ACT and funded by Carer Gateway.
Counselling
Counselling
If you are feeling stressed, anxious, sad or frustrated, a counsellor can talk with you either in person or over the phone in the comfort of your own home.
Care Planning
When you connect with Carers ACT, one of the first people you are likely to talk to is a care planner. Our team of care planners have a deep understanding of what it’s like to be a carer because many of us have taken on a caring role ourselves.
We can work in partnership with you to identify your needs as a carer, support you with skills and resources, help you have more time for yourself, foster relationships and navigate the mental health system.
For the person you care for
Frail Aged Respite Booking Service
Short term residential respite care supports carers and the frail aged people they care for giving you both a break for a short period of time. It can help give you time and space to do things independently, or help carers attend to travel, work or other commitments by ensuring the person they care for is in good hands.
Carers ACT provides a respite booking service to take the stress out of finding a short-term residential respite bed. Using our respite booking service, we provide you with a single point of contact for aged care facilities across Canberra and Queanbeyan, so you don’t have to call around to find a respite vacancy, and we can also connect you with support for at-home care after a respite stay.
To book respite (or if you wish to become a respite service provider and receive bookings from us), please call Julie on (02) 6296 9988 or any fo the Carer Gateway team on 1800 422 737.
Enquire Now
Emergency Respite
If you find yourself suddenly unable to care, we can help you find emergency care for your loved one.
We can also help put a plan in place ahead of time should you be unable to care.
Give our Carer Gateway team a call on 1800 422 737 to make a plan.
Request Call BackCottage Respite
Carers ACT operates at our Deakin Cottage and Naraganwali Cottage to enable carers of people who are ageing and/or have dementia to have a short break.
We provide a home-away-from-home environment for the person you care for when things get complicated, difficult or if a carer encounters something unexpected. You can take a break knowing our service providers are looking after the person you care for. Planned respite care can also help you plan for regular breaks to rest and recharge. This service is available if the person you care for has dementia, and in some cases for aged care and other conditions.
Enquire now
Social Groups for Carers and Others
Events and groups you can attend with the person you care for
Carers ACT provides social connection programs and groups for anyone with a My Aged Care social connection code. Our groups team organise a range of activities to cater for different interests and cultural groups.
While our focus is always on Carers and their wellbeing, we understand that most people will at some point on their life provide unpaid care to a family or friend. Social groups are one way we can help to build resilient, connected communities and foster support networks.
Our social groups are accessible to anyone with a social support code through My Aged Care (over 65’s or over 55s for First Nations people).
Contact Groups Team See current social groupsSocial Groups
Sharing stories, knowledge and experience with other carers can remind you that you’re not alone. You can do this with people in your area by finding an event for you.
Carers ACT runs many special interest groups for carers and the people they care for.
See Groups & Activities
Illawarra Day Programs
Offering you the chance to take a break from caring, enhance your wellbeing and life balance through providing your loved one with a program of warm care, enrichment and social connection.
Illawarra Day Programs by Carers ACT.
Balancing caring with other obligations can be difficult.
Day Programs give you a chance to take a break, care for yourself and tend to other life obligations.
Day Programs offer your loved one social connection, mental enrichment and a sense of independence in a safe, familiar environment.
The trusted Carers ACT Day Programs are also available in the Illawarra region offering;
When: From 24 Jan 2023, 10am-3pm selected weekdays
Where: Dapto Leagues Club ,cnr Station St & Bong Bong Rd
Who: People with a social support code (this is available through MyAgedCare)