Support > Family Carers Information Toolkit
Supports for personal and household care
As MND progresses you might need to help the person who is living with MND with their personal care and daily activities.
This means helping your relative or friend get dressed, washed, go to the toilet, get in and out of bed and helping with food and drink. Some people may feel unsettled or unsure about how to provide this care. You might also find that you have to take on roles around that house that you have not been responsible for before, for example, cleaning and gardening. This can add a lot to your workload and can be quite stressful. If you are over 65 (or over 50 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) you might be eligible for Government help through My Aged Care. If you are younger than 65, you might be eligible for help under the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
There are a number of ways we can support you at this time. Your MND Advisor can link you in with appropriate supports and service providers. We suggest you also contact the Carer Gateway to register and ask what supports might be available.
At times equipment can make things easier for the person you are caring for as well as yourself. Talk with your Occupational Therapist about what items can be provided by the MND Victoria Equipment Service.
Family and friends want to help and there are practical things they can do to help share the load. It can be difficult to accept their help but please remember that you don’t need to do this on your own.
Respite is a term used to describe a break from caring. Respite can be someone coming into your home, or it may refer to a short stay in a residential care facility for the person living with MND. Respite can allow you to have a break for a few hours or a few days. There is more information about respite on the page Care outside the home.
Webinar Recordings
How Equipment can Help
Amy Schneider explains the Equipment Library and Minor Home Modifications Program.
Getting the Right Support
Andrea Salmon (MND Carers Program) and Julie Wilson (MND Advisor) talk about being creative when it comes to meeting care needs through informal and formal support.
Experiences
Susan's experience
Susan is caring for her father, Tom. She’s concerned about what to do if Tom has a fall and is not confident in how to best help him if this happens. After talking over her concerns with her MND Advisor, the Advisor arranged for training on falls prevention and lifting. They also discussed getting an Occupational Therapy home assessment and putting together a list of useful contacts in an emergency.
James' experience
James has been caring for his wife, Sharon, full time since her diagnosis. James wants to do everything himself but has realised that it is too much for him. Sharon's MND Advisor helped connect them with the NDIS to get the practical support they needed.
Janice's experience
Janice feels that her husband’s MND is progressing and that they need more support. An Aged Care Assessment has approved a funding package and they are receiving some help with cleaning and gardening, but she worries that that might not be enough in the future. Her MND Advisor has talked to her about respite options if she needs a break and will speak to My Aged Care to request a reassessment.
