Family Caregiving
Supporting an Older Person With Poor Appetite
Help an older relative eat and drink more, with a food and fluid chart, appetite boosters, a small-meals planner and a weight check log.
A$24.99Buy
Family caregiving courses for people who look after someone
Practical courses for unpaid carers: plan the care as a family, look after yourself along the way and help someone who is not eating enough.
- 3 courses
- Tools in every course
- Certificate included
If you regularly help a family member or friend who is older, unwell or living with a disability, you are a carer, even if you have never used the word. Carer Gateway is the Australian Government's free support service for carers. It offers counselling, coaching, respite and practical help, and starts by talking through your caring role and your support needs to build a carer support plan with you. Call 1800 422 737 (weekdays, 8am to 5pm).
Services Australia manages government payments for carers, such as Carer Payment and Carer Allowance, and can tell you whether you are eligible. For the person you look after, My Aged Care is the starting point for aged care services at home or in residential care.
Our caregiving courses help with the practical side: a written family care plan, a rota so the load is shared, a support map for yourself, and food and fluid charts for someone with a small appetite. They are general education and do not replace advice from the person's GP or care team.
All family caregiving courses
Family Caregiving
Managing Carer Stress
Practical ways to look after yourself while you care for someone, with a respite planner, support map and a five-minute breathing reset.
A$27.99Buy
Family Caregiving
Building a Family Care Plan
One clear plan for the person you care for: who does what, key contacts and emergency details, ready to share with family and services.
A$27.99Buy
Which carer course to start with
- Getting organised: Building a Family Care Plan brings everything into one document, with a roles and rota planner, key contacts and an emergency sheet.
- Running on empty: Managing Carer Stress tracks stress, plans breaks and maps the support around you.
- Worried they are not eating: Supporting an Older Person With Poor Appetite covers small meals, fluids, appetite ideas and when to see the GP.
Fill in the key contacts sheet first. When something goes wrong, having every number in one place saves time and stress.
What the carer tools do
- Family care plan and roles and rota planner: who does what and when, so one person is not doing it all.
- Key contacts and emergency information sheets: medicines, conditions and contacts ready for paramedics, hospitals or a stand-in carer.
- Carer stress tracker and respite planner: notice when stress is building and plan regular breaks.
- Support map and self-care plan: the people and services you can call on, and small things that keep you going.
- Food and fluid chart and weight check log: a clear record to share with the GP if eating or drinking drops off.
When to get help
For the person you care for, see their GP if they lose weight without trying, eat or drink much less than usual, or become more confused, drowsy or unsteady. Call 000 in an emergency, such as a fall with a head injury, chest pain or difficulty breathing.
For you, call Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737 for counselling and practical support. If you feel overwhelmed or unable to cope, Lifeline (13 11 14) is open day and night, or see your GP.
Family caregiving courses: your questions
What is Carer Gateway?
A free Australian Government service for unpaid carers. It offers counselling, coaching, peer support, respite and practical help. You can call 1800 422 737 on weekdays between 8am and 5pm.
What is a carer support plan?
When you contact Carer Gateway, a local provider talks with you about your caring role and your needs, usually for 30 to 90 minutes, and builds a plan of support with you.
Can I get paid for caring?
Some carers can get government payments, such as Carer Payment or Carer Allowance. Eligibility depends on your situation and the care you provide, so check with Services Australia.
Do I count as a carer if I only help a few hours a week?
Yes. Carers include anyone who gives unpaid care and support to a family member or friend, whatever the hours. You can contact Carer Gateway for support at any level.
What if the person I care for refuses to eat?
The poor appetite course suggests small, frequent meals, favourite foods and ways to make eating easier. Keep a food and fluid chart and talk to their GP, especially if they are losing weight.
Can the whole family use the care plan?
Yes. The care plan and rota are designed to be shared, so everyone can see who is doing what and when.
Official sources
Share the load this week
Open the care plan course, fill in the key contacts sheet and send the rota planner to one other family member.