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Creative Respite Options

Although the role of a carer can be a rewarding and stimulating experience, Access Arts recognises that older carers have been caring for their loved one for a long time without dedicated time to themselves. The opportunity to have time out to put their feet up or participate in a creative activity can help carers care better, and last the distance.

Creative Respite Options provides not just time away from the caring role but also respite which:

• addresses the whole family's needs
• Supports the development of life skills of people experiencing disability.
• Creates the opportunity to participate in the creative, cultural and social areas of life for both carers and the person being cared for.
• promotes the valued status of people experiencing disability and plans for the future through professional skills development.
• Recognises the type of respite needed is up to the family (whether this is supported quality family time or both parties wish to spend time apart, either having a rest or enjoying a creative activity of their choice)

In order to be eligible carers must be over 65 years old (those with an Indigenous background, 50 years and over), and supporting their child with a disability. Families must also live in the Greater Brisbane Region.

If you would like to participate please call Sally at Access Arts on (07) 3358 6200 or email sally@accessarts.org.au to find out more and arrange a time for a consultation.

For more information and feedback from some of our Creative Respite Options families you can download an information flyer in Word format here.

Creative Respite Options Principles and Philosophy

What is Respite?

Respite is a type of carer support that provides alternative care for the person being care for. This can be short term, emergency or on a more planned basis. Respite can be arranged so the person being cared for has a care worker provide support in their home or in the community. It may be a situation where the person being cared for attends an activity or facility where they have their needs met for a day or longer, including overnight (Carer Support and Respite Centre Inc, 2007).

How does Creative Respite Options fit into this definition?

Creative Respite Options provides flexible and self- directed creative respite activities for both senior carers and the person they are caring for. In order to be eligible, Indigenous carers must be over the age of 45 and non-Indigenous carers over the age of 65. Access Arts delivers the program with funding support through Disability Services Queensland. With further funding, Access Arts would like to extend its service delivery to overnight creative camps for both people experiencing disability and their carers.

Access Arts Assistant Director, Emma Bennison states that Creative Respite Options has come out of the increasing need for senior carers to receive respite that caters for their creative and leisure needs. 'Creative Respite Options has been inspired by the great need for long-term elderly carers and families to receive supported time out and self- directed leisure activities at times which suit them.'

Creative Respite Options Principles:

1. The opportunity to participate in the creative, cultural and social areas of life is important for all people.
2. Consultation with families
3. Flexible delivery
4. Looking at the whole family's needs
5. A 'creative' approach to respite
6. Happy and healthy carers= better care
7. Respite which supports the acquisition of training and professional development opportunities for people experiencing disability which will assist them to gain independence and economic stability in the future.
8. Respite that encourages the development of natural social and support networks for the whole family and supports the development of life skills of people experiencing disability.

1.  The opportunity to participate in the creative, cultural and social areas of life is essential for all people.

Access Arts is able to provide unique respite support for families. The arts, cultural and social aspects of life often come second in comparison to the daily care routine. By providing the necessary support services while also having the expertise and network to provide a range of creative activities, Access Arts encourages carers and people experiencing disability to explore personal creativity and growth.

Why an arts organisation for a respite program?

The arts can provide the opportunity for carers and the person they care for to shift the focus away from the caring role towards a more creative, mutual relationship. One carer has stated that participation in Creative Respite Options has enabled her and her son to 'share the fun of photography as equals'. Exploring a shared creative interest can lessen the power imbalance that can exist between carers and the person they care for, enabling them to view each other as equals who are learning and developing their skills together.

2.  Consultation with families:

In accordance with Disability Service Standard 3 (Decision-making and choice) a key aim for Creative Respite Options is for consultation with families to determine service delivery. In the initial stage of the program, Access Arts had discussions with families around when they most needed respite and what they would like to do. Families were given a wide variety of options and information regarding the sorts of respite activities available both at Access Arts and in the wider community in order to aid them in the decision-making process. Each family's program was subsequently developed from these interests and needs. Families are also encouraged to contact Access Arts should they wish to change their program or require additional information on program options.

3.  Flexible Delivery:

The program has been developed with consideration of the times that elderly carers need the respite assistance. Access Arts is open to offering service during holidays and weekends so that both elderly family carers and the person they care for can have time out when they really need it or attend community activities and events that might normally be out of reach because of a range of issues like lack of available support during those periods and/or financial constraints.

4.  Looking at the whole family's needs:

Creative Respite Options recognises that the experience of disability does not just affect the individual with the disability, but the whole family. As such, the program looks at the creative interests and respite needs of the whole family, not just the person with disability. Carers may wish to do something creative with their respite time (this is only limited by their imagination!) or simply have some time to put their feet up.

In keeping with Disability Service Standard 2 (Individual Needs), Access Arts consults with families in order to plan an individualised program that they actually want and need, including any goals or interests the person with a disability may wish to work towards. Families are also consulted with every 8 weeks so that they are able to highlight any change in interests or needs as well as give their feedback on ways to improve service delivery.

5.  A 'creative' approach to respite:

The name 'Creative Respite Options' not only refers to the delivery of arts activities (such as workshops/mentoring, arts and cultural events and professional development for artists) but also the creative and unique way in which the program delivers respite.

Creative Respite Options views respite as not just simply time away from the person being cared for; the type of respite needed is up to the family. For some families, this has meant supported quality family time without having to worry about the logistics of the caring role (such as appropriate transport). For others, both parties have wished to spend time apart, either having a rest or enjoying a creative activity of their choice.

6. Happy and healthy carers= better care:

Although the role of a carer can be a rewarding and stimulating experience, Access Arts recognises that ageing carers have been caring for their loved one for a long time and may be at risk of burnout. The opportunity to have time out to put their feet up or participate in a creative activity can help carers care better, and last the distance.

Having creative opportunities can restore the balance in carers' lives and is important to the wellbeing of the carer and the person they care for. A happy, well-rounded and fulfilled carer is more able to cope, more enthusiastic and enjoys the caring role more. The person being cared for also has the opportunity to expand their social network, participate in independent creative activities and is happier knowing that their carer is getting the help they need (Department of Health and Ageing, 2006).

7. Respite which supports the acquisition of professional development opportunities for people experiencing disability which will assist them to gain independence and economic stability in the future.

An unexpected but prevalent outcome for our Creative Respite families has been the professional development of people experiencing disability. Through consultation and the initial provision of creative activities, participants have been able to identify areas where they would like to develop skills at a professional level. From there, Access Arts has connected them with the appropriate mentor or arts worker who then works in partnership with them to fulfil their professional and artistic goals. The achievements people experiencing disability have accomplished through Creative Respite Options are publicised throughout the wider community via regular Access Arts newsletter articles, as well as through other magazines, forums, media releases and community showcase events. This serves to affirm a positive image of people experiencing disability, promote their abilities and talents and increase their professional opportunities (Disability Service Standard 6).

8. Respite that encourages the development of natural social and support networks for the whole family and supports the development of life skills of people experiencing disability.

Access Arts refers to program participants as 'members' not 'clients' as it emphasises that they are active members of the Access Arts (and wider) community not just a user of a service. Having an established social network has proven to better prepare members for moving out of the family home and into their own place. Creative Respite Options provides an environment in which members can develop and expand their social network through participation at workshops, events and activities both at Access Arts and in the wider community. Access Arts has an 'open door' policy where members are always welcome to come into the office, have a coffee and a chat with staff and other members.

Creative Respite Options encourages the participation and inclusion of people experiencing disability and the whole family by supporting them to attend a range of quality arts and wider community social events. Access Arts' extensive arts industry network adds value to the Creative Respite Options program as we are able to offer families access to these events either free of charge or at heavily discounted prices. Involvement in such activities and events expands families' social network and provides opportunities to link in with other community groups and organisations. Families are offered financial assistance, support workers and transport support to enable them to attend. Thus far, Access Arts has been able to secure free tickets to a number of Brisbane Powerhouse performances, and has supported families to attend BBQ's, local festivals and cultural events.

Creative Respite Options also aims to further develop the life skills of members using a number of strategies. Members are supported to develop the ability to negotiate their local public transport system which will help them access their community in the future. Members are also given the opportunity to use the office equipment and in-kind support from IT staff in order to gain skills in typing, word processing and surfing the net. Members are able to borrow and learn about a range of other audio/visual equipment in order to achieve their creative and professional aspirations. Furthermore, members are encouraged to take on volunteering and group leadership roles when they participate in Access Arts Inc workshops and activities (these include leading group activities, assisting in setting up/packing away, taking attendance, making tea and coffee and becoming involved in the planning and debriefing for each workshop).

Planning for the future:

Access Arts Inc recognises that through the Creative Respite Options program we have a significant opportunity to support families to plan for the future. While we do not have the capacity to provide housing or independent living support as such, Creative Respite Options' role in assisting families in this planning is to:

• provide professional skills mentoring and development in the arts
• Assist in the development of natural social and support networks and life skills of people experiencing disability.
• Assist in the marketing of forums and events which aim to help families plan for the future and provide transport for the families who wish to attend them.
• Use our extensive referral network to support families to link with services which can provide support in the transition to independent living.
• Provide a 'safe' and empowering environment for Members and their families which allows for some time away from the anxiety, loss of control and trauma which can occur during the transition process towards separation and independence.

References:

Australian Government, Department of Health and Ageing, (2006). From: Take a Break from Caring.

Carer Support and Respite Centre Inc, (2007). From: What is Respite