Care 4 U

The Care 4 U Holiday Holiday Program is an uniquely therapeutic and educational experience which allows the carer to reevaluate their caring role, to increase their capacity for self care and to link with and access other ongoing supports in the community. This occurs when offering people respite for five days. Care is provided for both the care recipient and the carer in a relaxing and therapeutic environment by trained staff 24 hours a day.

Objectives

• provide the carer with a therapeutic break that is nurturing and educational in nature
• provide the carer and care recipient the opportunity to be together emotionally as their original relationship dictated, rather than being together in their changed roles of "carer and care recipient"
• provide the opportunity for carers to witness first hand different models of care based on the dementia knowledge and skills that trained staff can bring to the situation.
• provide opportunities for formal education that is provided in a nurturing and therapeutic setting. By reducing the carer's stress levels, information is more readily received and accepted
• provide an opportunity to develop caring strategies and behaviour management ideas based around individual situations and challenges.
• provide the opportunity to discuss the various respite options available within the participant's local community and the ability to refer clients to these organisations on completion of the holidays.
• provide an opportunity for participants to form a supportive network with one another that can be maintained on completion of the holiday.

Who is Eligible:

This program was originally designed to provide respite, education and support for the carer's of people who have a dementia or related disorder. Holidays are now also provided for the carers of people with a disability other than dementia throughout the year.The primary carer and care recipient must attend the holiday together to receive the full therapeutic benefits of the program.

Special needs groups include:

• People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• People who are financially disadvantaged
• People living in rural and remote Locations
• People who are socially isolated.

Access to Service

People wishing to attend a Care 4 U Holiday can be referred by other organizations or can contact Tweed Valley Respite Service directly. The Team Leader will then complete an in-home assessment.

Hours of Service

The Care 4 U Holiday Programs offers twelve holidays throughout the year. (Eight dementia specific holidays and four holidays for carers of people with a disability). The holiday is facilitated over five days and four nights.

Further Information

Should you require further information regarding the program or wish to make a referral to the Care 4 U Holiday Program please contact Tweed Valley Respite Service Inc on 6674 2267.