Care-full with Wendy Frew
About me
I’m Wendy Frew, an Australian journalist, author and community radio broadcaster. My work has appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian Financial Review and the BBC, and on 2SER and Radio Northern Beaches.
Professionally and personally, I’m deeply interested in the environment and sustainable living. But these days, as the primary carer for my beautiful nonagenarian mother, I spend a lot of time interpreting regulations for government and non-government aged care services, trying to make sure Mum gets the best possible care.
Why subscribe to Care-full?
Because caring for aging parents isn’t always easy. At Care-full, you’ll find my tips about how to juggle your caring responsibilities, where to find support, how to navigate government bureaucracy, and how to keep parents safe at home or find the right care facility for them. And – perhaps, most importantly – you’ll realise that you’re not alone during what’s probably your biggest role (reversal) yet!
Join a community
Over the years, I’ve had some support from family and friends for my role as a carer. But there’s nothing like talking to a group of people who truly understand what you’re going through. So, I formed my own group! At Care-full, I’ll guide you through the bureaucratic weeds that often seem to strangle government services and funding; and I’ll shine a light on non-government services that might make life easier for you and your parents.
I’m keen to hear your stories. What problems have you encountered caring for your parents? What support do you need? What solutions have you found? I can’t promise I’ll have all the answers, but I can point you in the right direction.
Hopefully, I’ll bring the occasional bit of levity to these issues too, because - let’s face it - if you don’t laugh, you might cry.
Please participate in the comments section, or support Care-full by subscribing.
Editorial policy
I follow Australia’s Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance’s (MEAA) Journalist Code of Ethics that dictates journalists commit to honest, fair and independent reporting. I don’t accept payment or gifts in return for coverage of any service or product related to caring for aged parents; nor do I endorse any particular care service or product. Where I do talk about services or products that might help older people, they will be suggestions only - not reviews or recommendations.
Wherever possible, I will include links to articles or reports that I refer to in my newsletter, and name the people I quote. To protect their privacy, there will be times when I recount the experiences of other carers without naming them.
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