CarersAir: www.carersair.net.nz

Carers NZ has launched its new online space for family carers and friends.

Visit www.carersair.net.nz to find all kinds of help, and try our new Time Out 'virtual respite' library: if you can't get out for a break, watch some of these experiences to take you away … to the forest, the sea, for a motorcycle road trip, or sit at a café in Paris watching the world go by. We'll be adding more experiences all the time.

If you've been meaning to put an emergency care plan in place, so the person you support will have uninterrupted care if something happens to you, print our suite of Emergency Care Planning Tools. You can print and complete a new Care Plan, Carer ID Card, Important Papers Checklist, or Medications Plan whenever important details change. We encourage organisations to have a special planning event for carers in their networks, so everyone can complete their Tools together. During the Carers Strategy Action Plan consultation, worrying about an emergency was a huge issue for carers who support someone who has high or complex needs. The tools will provide peace of mind, and others in your family, whanau, or support network will know what to do if you fall ill or die suddenly.

You'll also be able to request a free infopack for carers, view the Government's all-important Guide for Carers, and download articles from past issues of Family Care magazine. You can listen to Anna Filliol's audio meditations, follow along with Wayne Halkyard's Strength for Life 15 minute exercise programme for carers, and Stretch, Focus + Relax with Anna in our new video series.

The name for CarersAir came from carers who say the one place they feel truly relaxed is on an airplane; no matter what is happening on the ground, they have no option but to let go, relax, and have someone else bring the drinks and nibbles.

To access everything at CarersAir, just complete a quick log-in process, or you can use your existing Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, or Facebook log-ins.

When you find something you like at CarersAir, you can click the Favourite icon so items you'd like to see again are saved in your personal log-in space and will appear every time you visit.

Carers NZ now plans to make it easy for carers and those with special interests to find each other at CarersAir. We know it's hard for carers to attend events and support meetings, but CarersAir will ultimately allow you to make friends, connect with old ones, and access advice and help … you'll even be able to see and talk to each other!

Visit the www.carersair.net.nz site to self-choose the things you think will best support you in your caring role! We think every carer, regardless of age or their caring situation, will find something of interest at CarersAir, and welcome your feedback about how to make it even better.

If you have questions about CarersAir or need advice, phone the National Carer Resource Centre during business hours Monday to Friday, 0800 777 797.
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