“The caring role is one of immense social and economic value,” said Riverview Hostel’s Community Care and Day Respite co-ordinator Katie Street.

“Carers are the foundation of our health and community care system.

“As health care increasingly moves away from ‘institutional’ settings into the home and community, family carers shoulder greater responsibility for managing complex conditions and providing the emotional and physical support for the person for whom they are caring.”

Ms Street said it was difficult to estimate just how many carers there were in the Walcha area, as many people who provide care to a family member or friend, don’t identify themselves as a ‘carer’.

“This means that many of them may miss out on the valuable help and support that is available to them,” she said.

According to Carers Australia, carers in Australia contribute an estimated 1.2 billion hours of care annually. This is the equivalent of $30.5 billion of formal aged and disability care services in Australia and the productivity loss of this care is approximately $4.9 billion.

A recent report, commissioned by Alzheimer’s Australia, forewarns of a chronic shortage of more than 150,000 paid and unpaid carers for people with dementia by 2029, unless there are major policy changes or a significant medical breakthrough.

“No future health or community care system will be able to respond to changing demographics and health needs, clinical practices and societal influences in the long term without carers,” said Ms Street. “However, the worth and value of caring extends beyond it being cost effective to government and the community.”

One carer who regularly attends the Day Respite program run by Riverview Hostel looks after her husband who suffers from dementia and dependency. Respecting her partner’s privacy she wishes to remain anonymous but said the once a week respite the program provided her was a great support.

“It gives me one day a week to go to appointments or have a day out or just catch up at home at my own pace,” she said. “A day which is relatively worry free is a big help and I feel he benefits as well as he is getting out and socialising with people.”

For information on the respite program call Katie Street on 6777 1066.