ACCESS TO NARDY HOUSE RESPITE

 
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To apply for respite:
SEE NARDY RESPITE PAGE FOR DIRECT INFORMATION
or
Southern Region DADHC NSW phone 02 6200300 and ask for details and application forms or
ask your Case Manager to apply
Or ring Nardy House Respite on 02 64938120

Receiving respite is accompanied by one big sigh of relief. Carers of anyone with a disability will know what I mean but when you are caring for Zeke the relief is overwhelming. Zeke is profoundly disabled: he requires assistance with every facet of his daily living, twenty-four hour /seven days a week and since my husband’s death, twelve months ago, I am Zeke’s carer.
 
Rex, Zeke’s dad, used to be Zeke’s main carer and I supported the family financially by working as a primary teacher. When Zeke was ten (he is now twenty-four) Rex and I realised we would not be able to continue caring for him forever and we donated five and a half acres of land on the Princes Highway Quaama to Bega Valley Shire Council. The idea was to build permanent accommodation for Zeke and provide five other permanent accommodation places as well. The Nardy House Saga, a fourteen-year-old story (see Nardy House website: nardyhouse.org.au, background page) has been a well-documented struggle to achieve some rural service provision for people like Zeke.
 
Finally Zeke received his first lot of respite at Nardy House. He was not, as I had hoped, the house’s first client but by the time the first respite came I was well and truly over any regrets on that score: I just wanted a break!
 
I want other carers to know about Zeke’s stay at Nardy House and to encourage them to book a break. The house is a very specialised high-level care, respite facility for people with profound and complex needs and is not suitable for all carers and people with disabilities.
 
The respite facility is being funded by DADHC (the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Homecare) for its first two years of operation. DADHC operates with a determining Advisory Board that consists of two DADHC members two Nardy House Members and an Independent Chair. Nardy House and DADHC are in a unique partnership agreement that is meant to last for two years: after that time Nardy House will then become an independent service provider.
 
The most noticeable thing at the house is that it doesn’t smell. Everywhere else that Zeke has stayed for respite has had a very peculiar odour. The only odour at Nardy House is the smell of good, wholesome food. The house feels welcoming and the staff members are organised and receptive. You feel comfortable enough to stay and chat and have a good look around (not that I needed to as I was part of the building project but others will want to). I have confidence in this staff and this is a must for all carers. Zeke relaxed, happy and contented in their care. The staff know Zeke and are aware of his needs. They listen carefully to me when I explain any recent changes and they use the respite notes that I provide often and intelligently.
 
The staffing level and the staffing expertise provide the backbone of trust and confidence in all caring situations: without this backbone, respite is a nightmare of insecurity, trauma and mishap. Carers are not being precious when they request a certain level of care. Surprisingly enough they request it because they KNOW what is required.
 
Zeke used to receive respite in Wollongong so the most noticeable aspect for me is the decrease in travel time. I really am not a keen supporter of in-home respite. Your home gets turned into a service provision point and your privacy is stripped. Carers know the limitations and restriction that exist because of any in-home assistance and centre based respite is the only time you get to have your home to yourself ; for Rex and I there was really no option but to take Zeke to Wollongong. Rex hated the whole idea. Zeke was simply too far away. As well travel time ate into our respite. It used to take a full day to pack all Zeke’s gear, a full day to get there and the reverse on his return. Four days gone for a limited break. I can now ask for short respite stays and or longer term planned stays.
 
I am allowed to be human and can actually get past the time constrained locality traps of Narooma and Merimbula. There is a big weight lifted and the “monkey” (worry) is off my back and for a little while I don’t have to think about Zeke’s needs.
 
Betsy
 

DAHC STILL MAKES RESPITE HARD FOR CARERS

Why doesn't DADHC cater for the needs of people with profound disabilities?
Even a contractual agreement that prioritises people with profound disabilities is not enough to make this Department care enough to give carers a break.
The " Letter to the Editor" the Bega District News 14th March shows just how callous bureaucracy in NSW is.
People with profound disabilities require very high level nursing care as part of their everyday requirements. These cowboys need to join the rest of the community and use the specialised respite service effectively.
Not only is the facility underutilised the carers are sacrificed and in the long term the pennies saved end up as pounds squandered
Denise
TO VIEW THE LETTER GO TO ABOUT US AND CLICK ON NARDY NEWS

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