Case Study
Commonwealth Carer Respite Centre (CRCC)
Our Commonwealth Carer Respite Centre was contacted by a local community nurse who was enquiring as to what assistance may be available for a family she was currently involved with.
The family lived in a rural community with limited services and have recently arrived home from Sydney where their baby (8 months old) had been discharged after complications resulting from a heart attack that left her severely brain damaged.
She was being tube fed via her nose every two hours - needing to be maintained in a semi upright position for 1 hour after feeding and her sleeping pattern was virtually 20-40minutes - when the cycle began again. She had a significantly loud stridor when she breathed which was audible throughout the house.
Both parents were taking shifts in caring for her as well as her 2 year old sibling. They had some assistance from the Community Nurses and family but otherwise were struggling to cope and were very stressed.
Emergency respite was their only request. However on-going assistance would be needed to support this family and help them to cope to care for their new baby. Emergency over-night respite of two ten hour nights per week for two weeks was provided.