RESPITE
The role of carers – and how they can get support too
By Kris T | 17 Feb 2026
Caring for someone you love can be one of life’s most meaningful roles. But it can also be physically exhausting and emotionally overwhelming — especially when you are providing full-time care with little respite.
Mary, 78, is the primary carer for her husband Paul, who is living with Stage 4 emphysema. Paul is no longer mobile and relies on Mary for many aspects of daily living — cooking, mobility assistance, transport to and from appointments and emotional support.
While Mary focuses on Paul’s needs, her own health is suffering.
She has been experiencing frequent headaches and increasing anxiety. The stress of being a full-time carer, combined with limited respite support, is leaving her exhausted and emotionally drained. Like many older carers in Australia, she feels responsible for holding everything together — even when her own wellbeing is declining.
Mary’s experience reflects a broader reality. Across Australia, unpaid carers provide essential support to people living with disability, chronic illness and age-related conditions. While caring can be rewarding, long-term caring responsibilities without adequate support can increase the risk of carer stress, burnout, anxiety and depression.
Why carer wellbeing matters
Carers often take on multiple roles at once. They are not only providing hands-on assistance, but also coordinating appointments, managing medications, advocating within the health system and offering emotional support.
Over time, this responsibility can affect both physical and mental health. Ongoing fatigue, sleep disruption, stress-related symptoms such as headaches or dizziness, and feelings of anxiety or depression are common signs of carer strain. Social connections may narrow, and personal time becomes limited.
When carer wellbeing declines, the sustainability of care at home is placed at risk. Supporting carers early helps prevent crisis and ensures both the carer and the person receiving care remain safe and supported.
Supporting carers is critical to sustaining quality care at home.
Carers often manage:
- Personal care and daily living assistance
- Medication coordination
- Appointment scheduling and transport
- Emotional and social support
- Advocacy within the health and aged care systems
Over time, this level of responsibility can affect:
- Physical health – fatigue, musculoskeletal strain, headaches and stress-related symptoms
- Mental health – increased risk of anxiety, depression and carer burnout
- Social wellbeing – reduced connection with friends and community
- Financial security – reduced working hours or early retirement
When carers become unwell, the stability of care arrangements can be at risk. Protecting carer wellbeing helps prevent crisis and supports sustainable, long-term care at home.
Support and resources available to carers in Australia
Many carers are unaware that dedicated supports exist specifically for them.
Carer Gateway is a national program providing free support services to unpaid carers.
Available supports may include:
- Planned and emergency respite care
- Short-term in-home support
- Counselling services
- Carer coaching and skills development
For carers of elderly family members, respite support may be available through the Australian Government’s new Support at Home program. This can include in-home respite (where a support worker steps in so you can take a break) or short-term residential respite, giving carers time to rest, attend appointments or recharge.
If you’re supporting an older person at home, funded supports may help reduce pressure and prevent burnout.
Karista can help
Let Karista take the stress off your shoulders. We help carers by simplifying the process of finding the right clinicians with availability, tailored to the needs of the person you’re caring for. We handle the hard work for you — and with the right paperwork, we can even complete forms on your behalf.
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