Bearing the real cost of caring for a loved one

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thing in our lives, our vulnerable

daughter will live when we can’t
look after her anymore.”
The Village Voice first heard Mrs
Calabria’s story last year, when she
told us how, in an attempt to plan for
Renata’s future, the family bought an
investment property in 1982.
For decades, she said, the couple
juggled multiple jobs so they could
have “a better life when they re-
tired”.
“They tell us to sell it, live off the
money, and then get the pension.
But can Mr Rudd just live off the
pension?”
With Renata’s shoes costing up
to $800 a pair and her back brace
$1500, plus ongoing physiotherapy,
Mrs Calabria said the family’s in-
come barely covered expenses.
Of the 2.6 million carers in
Australia, only 116,000 people re-
ceive the carer’s payment according
to Mary Lou Carter, Drummoyne
resident and member of the Carers’
Alliance Party. Renata Calabria, with her parents Mena and Dominic Calabria. Mena is not eligible for the carer’s payment.
This had created a generation of
carers who were isolated because accommodation places across the homelessness. Then come moderate ‘Mummy can I have a cuddle?
“they cannot be away from their state, there were almost 2000 peo- priority clients, whose home life is “Who is going to give her a cud-
carer role”, Ms Carter said. ple waiting for accommodation in showing signs of breaking down. dle when I go?”
In addition to the financial strain, June. Last are those wishing to ‘en-
Mrs Calabria said caring for Renata In an effort to curb the number, hance their quality of life’.
was increasingly difficult. the department recently released And according to a department What you can do:
Her fingers are swollen from their draft policy, ‘Allocation of Places spokesman, limited accommodation Mary Lou Carter, from Carers
arthritis and constant back strain in Supported Accommodation’. means carers cannot always chose Alliance said concerned readers
makes it painful to help Renata. The report states that support ac- where their loved ones will live. should write to State Member Angela
But the alternative carries its own commodation “will only be consid- This is of great concern to Mrs D’Amore and Federal Member John
concerns. ered after all other support options Calabria, who worries what will Murphy.
Although the NSW Department have been exhausted”. happen to Renata when they can no
of Ageing, Disability and Home Care Those first on the list are cli- longer care for her. Use your voice: tell us your story by
provides almost 7000 supported ents who are homeless or at risk of “And if she is upset she will say, emailing editor@villagevoice.com.au