December 2008
Family relationships
We speak to carers about how to nurture family relationships in difficult circumstances; we interview the author of a groundbreaking New Zealand study based on lengthy interviews with 300 carers of all ages;
The photo on the left is of Jury brothers Mitchell and Braedon with their Grandpa. Listen to their mother Carolyn's story below.
Carolyn Jury - Taking time out Duration: 6 mins 04 seconds
Carolyn Jury and her husband Wayne have worked hard to find ways to nurture their marriage, and their relationship with sons Mitchell and Braedon. Mitchell (13) was recently diagnosed with Aspergers, and life has been challenging for the family for some time. Listen to Carolyn's story about her family's coping strategies.
Paul Manning - A male perspective
Duration: 5 minutes 48 seconds
Paul Manning and his wife Marie have six children, including 21-year-old Jessica, who has has an intellectual disability, is vision-impaired, and suffers a number of medical conditions. As Executive Officer of Parents of Vision Impaired, Paul supports and empowers other parents of blind children. Listen to his suggestions, based on his own experiences as a husband a father, about how to look after yourself while also supporting and nurturing your family.
Jayne O'Neill - Advice from Relationship Services
Duration: 4 minutes 47 seconds
Jayne O'Neill is a Wellington based clinical leader and counsellor for Relationship Services, a not-for-profit organisation that provides professional, affordable counselling to individuals, couples, and families. Jayne talks us through some of the challenges carers can face in their relationships. See also our five minute feature below, offering advice from Jayne about how to manage common tensions and concerns over the holidays.
Findings from the Carers Assessment of Needs Study
Duration 15 minutes 28 seconds
New Zealand carers have a pressing need for more information, greater financial assistance, and more adequate respite care, according to the author of one of the biggest research studies ever undertaken about carers in our country. The CAN findings are based on lengthy interviews with 300 New Zealand carers. Listen to Diane Jorgensen talk about what carers want, and how they are coping.
Election follow up
Duration: 10 minutes
We update our We Care We Vote election special in the wake of the 08 general election, with policy summaries from the Maori Party and the Progressive Party. We also hear from Carers New Zealand Director Laurie Hilsgen about what carers might expect from the new National-led government. And a carer who was actively involved in the deveopment of the New Zealand Carers' Strategy has a message for the new government. Listen to the election issues update. Read the Maori Party policy statement. Read the Progressive Party policy statement.
Stay safe in the living room
Duration: 5 minutes 51 seconds
Living rooms can seem reasonably safe compared to bathrooms and kitchens, but slips and falls can still happen easily, especially when things are left lying around. ACC's Jessica McDonald talks through some tips on how to keep safe in your living areas.
No worries
Duration: 5 minutes seconds
Worries and fears can bring us down
. Anna's latest meditation is designed to help you deal with anxiety. Set yourself up in a warm, private, comfortable place and clear your mind of all responsibilities. Push play ... and make the most of a well-deserved window of time out.
Products to make life easier
Listen to Sonja talk about products that make life easier for carers when dealing with continence at home.
Wayne Halkyard is working with Carers New Zealand to devise special programmes to help carers become stronger and healthier. Hear Wayne talk nutrition as he focuses on the importance of carbohydrates as essential components in maintaining our body's energy. Wayne has developed a simple eating plan and 15 minute exercise programme for carers. By making simple changes, carers can build strength and maintain energy.
Hear more Listen and Learn features!
Tips for having a Happy Christmas Relationship Services has designed a ten-point brochure about this topic called
To Have a Merry Christmas, which you can download at its website, along with other suggestions about how to cope during what can be a stressful time of year for families with health and disability needs. We asked Jayne O'Neill to
talk us through the brochure, point by point .
Planning ahead is the antidote to frayed nerves and frazzled tempers when heading off on holiday. Jayne O'Neill shares
some holiday tools and tactics to help us, whether we're going away or spending our summer break at home.