Support for carers discussed

Dunedin South Labour MP Clare Curran (right) talks about the need for good support for carers at a Carers Week panel discussion at the Dunedin Community House yesterday. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.
Dunedin South Labour MP Clare Curran (right) talks about the need for good support for carers at a Carers Week panel discussion at the Dunedin Community House yesterday. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.
The carers of people with disabilities, addiction and chronic illness need as much support as the people they look after, a forum heard yesterday.

About 25 health service providers and carers attended the Carers Society Otago forum at the Dunedin Community House to discuss support for carers.

The forum heard speakers from sectors including mental health, elderly care and education.

Dunedin South Labour MP Clare Curran thanked the people at the forum for working with ''complex and difficult'' issues while receiving little government funding.

''We are seeing all our disability services in the city desperately worried about the funding situation, desperately worried about the people they support and their ability to provide them with the support they need.''

The need for a community-wide approach to care, further research into the needs of carers and support focused on youth carers were themes raised by many of the speakers.

Dunedin Public Libraries customer experience manager Mike Collett said the library provided a ''quiet contemplative'' space for the public, including carers.

It was also an important social hub for many, he said.

Dunedin Health and Disability advocate Gillian Adams said providing help for people was not always easy.

''There can be a lot of reluctance to get people to engage.

''People think it is putting their hand up and saying 'I'm not coping' .''

Further research into the support needs of carers was needed, Carers Otago chairwoman Nicola Swain said.

At present Dr Swain was conducting research into the state of carers in New Zealand.

Once completed a report would be released which addressed topics such as how hard the role could be and how carers said they were coping, Dr Swain said.

The forum marked the start of Carers Week.

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