Supporting carers to care for those they love: the Carer Journal

Providing care and support to a loved one living with a serious injury can be a tough gig. Between staying on top of medical appointments, reminders to take medication, domestic tasks and often caring for others in the family, the needs of carers are often forgotten about.

The Carer Journal is a resource for carers supporting their loved ones from soon after injury and throughout their rehabilitation.

Developed by Carers NSW with support from icare, the journal aims to support families and carers to manage their caring responsibilities and capture information including appointments, treatment and progress. It also contains tips and words of support from one carer to another.

icare will host information sessions with Carers NSW in March for frontline workers and service providers to share how to support carers in their daily lives.

How has keeping a journal helped carers?

For mum Lanie, keeping a journal helped her document surgeries and improvements for her daughter, Tahlia, who was 17 when a car accident resulted in a traumatic brain injury and facial injuries. Tahlia was in a coma for one month.

During this tough time, everything seemed like a blur and was confusing for Lanie. Her best friend brought her a journal so she could document everything including details such as who came to visit, medical terminology and Tahlia's milestones like walking and talking again.

"As time went on Tahlia improved. Each day I would document her appointments in the hospital as there were so many, even multiple, surgeries. I felt a sense of being in control as I could look back in the diary and reflect on how far she had come and her ability to push herself. Family and friends support have a massive impact on the recovery of loved ones," Lanie, mum and carer.

"I have been able to reflect on certain dates, times and appointments which has been a great tool for me to have."

For mum Carolyn, who provides care for her son Jarrod who sustained a spinal cord injury in a road accident, keeping a journal was very helpful.

“It was all such a blur at first with so much to remember. Our journal took some of the pain away. It captured moments in time that were so tough yet so full of love and support.”

How to access the Carer Journal?

Journals are distributed to service providers and intensive care units across NSW.  Anyone can access the journal for free on our Support for families and carers page or on the Carers NSW website.