Episode 29: Carers - Looking After Yourself

The final episode of ‘Ending Life Well’ - Ep 29: Carers - Looking After Yourself – focuses on carer health. It bookends the series which started just over two years ago with Carers - How to Keep Yourself Well.

As Ending Life Well producer Denise van Aalst emphasises, “Carers so often put themselves last, but they run the risk of getting sick themselves if they don’t prioritise their own mental and physical health.”

In episode 29, Denise talks to Kelly Banks from Support Crew and they explores some ideas and resources from the Support Crew website that can help friends and whānau keep themselves well while they care for someone else.

In episode one she talked to Otago Community Hospice palliative care nurse specialist Sue Walton about WHY carer health is so important, and how carers can make it a part of their daily life. Things like managing visitors, carving out some personal time, leaning to say no and accepting help.

The carer health podcasts are a reminder to whānau that there are ways for them to prioritise their own health and still help their family. And it’s okay to not be fine.

As Denise says, “’I’m fine’ is a four letter word starting with F.”