We need a National Carers Card for all carers not on a pension

From: Deanna MM [mailto:[email protected]]

Sent: Monday, November 9, 2020 11:07 AM

To: '[email protected]'

Subject: We need a National Carers Card for all carers who are not on a pension - Royal Commission for Aged Care Final Submissions

Dear Royal Commission for Aged Care

I have read your draft final recommendations

I have had many other battles, so was unable to do my carers advocacy this year.  I will return next year.

The world is watching us and I am determined the Royal Commission for Aged Care in Australia sets the benchmark for the world to follow.

RCAC Key Carer Strategies we need

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/rcac-key-carer-strategies-nov-2020-deanna-mastellone-m-com/?published=t

So all carers - globally are supported, protected and respected.

All carers are treasures in our community.

We need a National Carers Card so all carers 1 in 10 are acknowledged for what they do for our community.

This National Carers Card should provide all carers in Australia with discount movies, theatre, transport and medicare only bills with doctors appointments.

This would make a gigantic difference to every single full time carer, who sacrifice everything to look after a loved one.

We are saving Australia alone per annum for all our selfless unpaid care $77 billion. Every carer should be acknowledged and recognised for what they do, with a National Carers Card.

I am currently preparing my submission for what also should be included in the Royal Commission recommendations, as not enough is being done for all full time carers. 

I sincerely hope the Royal Commission will introduce a National Carers Card for all carers.

I will never give up till one is introduced, like all my battles, no matter how long they take I never ever give up !

Kind Regards

Deanna Mastellone

People don't understand what it is to be a full time carer for an elderly parent with Dementia; they think we are having a holiday. We work so very hard taking care of them and suffer extreme exhaustion and burnout.

Did you know 800,000 Australian carers are on a pension and 2 million other carers are not. Did you know 1 in 10 Australians are carers? 

For those who do not receive a pension there is a carers allowance that is means tested, you are not entitled to it if you earn over $250k pa, it's a very well kept secret. 

It is $63.50 a week which is a $1 an hour for taking care of a loved one, 7 days a week

The Government cannot destroy our assets, expect us to pay for everything, give us no help, nor tax concessions, when we have given up our careers, spent all our super, to take care of a loved one, when we are close to 60 and cannot return to our former careers.

We need a holistic approach to this 21st Century dilemma, as our population ages with so many living so much longer into their 90’s and needing full time care, this will continue to affect more of the population

We cannot destroy the caring generation who will be left with huge health problems and many more dependent on the welfare system because the gigantic impact and long term consequences were not considered.

All carers are suffering with financial worries. This National Carers Card should provide all carers in Australia with discount movies, theatre, transport and medicare only bills with doctors appointments.

Stress of carers is enormous without the additional financial worries. You have to think for them, run their whole lives.

Carers are saving the country $77 billion a year by looking after their loved one (s) because they have given up their life, their career and made many sacrifices including using all their super to pay for bills and living expenses. 

A few ask me when am I going to get a job? I have never worked so hard in all my life.

Few have any understanding of how hard it is being a full time carer unless they have lived it too.

Mum could do nothing for herself, not even turn on and off the tv, turn on and off the lights, I had to shower n dress her, she was double incontinent, it’s relentless, 7 days a week.  

Mum cannot remember how to put her makeup on. She cannot dress herself if she does, puts them on back to front, on top of her pyjamas, all mixed up.

It wears you out being so patient. Answering the incessant endless repetitive questions. It absolutely drives you nuts

You do become resentful, carers are always tired, always late, always come last. We have no life of our own.

Overwhelmed, we feel like the walking dead, being a carer sucks the life out of you.

I am too tired to cook, to ring my friends, to go out as I am constantly worn out. By the time you do all the looking after. There's nothing left for you to have a life. It only gets harder as time goes by as they deteriorate. At times am too tired to sleep at night.

Feel like it is contagious, my words become muddled up.

We need greater awareness, recognition, compassion and understanding. 

Thank you for signing this petition to help all carers in Australia and create a National Carers Card 

If you have not signed this petition could you be so kind to sign it.

https://www.change.org/p/christian-porter-mp-aph-gov-au-every-full-time-carer-who-does-not-receive-a-pension-should-have-a-national-carers-card

Thank you

My speech at the Royal Commission 6 March 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7lnm_8o9FY

My speech in Rome at my first global dementia conference 15 October 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FrXlQg0V40

My final submission carer strategies we need in the recommendations proposed

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/final-submission-proposed-recommendations-australian-deanna/

Global Carer responses to my advocacy

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/carers-responses-my-posts-linkedin-dementia-facebook-deanna/?published=t