Maxine Hall, the full-time carer for husband David Hall, who is wheelchair-bound with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, said she was enjoying the time off.
However, she said the Government’s new $2.25 million boost to the carer support subsidy — that took effect on Saturday — was unlikely to help those in her situation, and she urged people to sign the New Zealand Carers Alliance petition to improve conditions.
While carers were entitled to respite leave, in practice this was difficult to access, and she had felt exhausted and undervalued.
Including two weeks off for a broken ankle, she had taken just 20 days off in the last six years, the Otago Daily Times reported last month.
After the article was published, two providers offered to accommodate her husband, to give her a break.
He was being well looked after, and she was "very pleased" to stay home out of the wintry weather rather than take him to his medical appointments.
She urged people to sign the petition despite doubts it would be successful.
The aim was to send a message to the Government, who relied on family members providing care to save itself money, she said.
The new funding was not likely to have much impact, as it would only allow those caring for family members a little more money to pay another carer to fill in, she said.
The daily rate increased from $64.50 in some regions, to a minimum of $80.
Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall last week said the Government would also widen options for how the subsidy could be used.
Carers would now be able to claim for several day’s worth of their annual subsidy allocation at once and use the subsidy to compensate others living in the same household to provide respite, or buy items that supported their work.
"This is expected to have positive impacts for more than 14,000 existing carers," Dr Verrall said last week.
"Full-time carers, or those looking after someone for four hours or more a day, will be able to use the subsidy to take a break from their stressful work, reducing the risk of career stress and burnout."
It would also allow more people to be cared for in the community, alleviating pressure on the health system, she said.
Carers Alliance secretariat Laurie Hilsgen said the increase was not a huge change for those who might be caring for someone around the clock, but was nevertheless welcome.
"We are delighted with the progress achieved," she said.
However, carers were still being taken for granted and treated as an afterthought, rather than a population in their own right.
It was "not sustainable" and more changes were needed, particularly in the provision of respite.
The petition — which had so far gathered 3528 signatures online — would continue, as would the WeCare campaign.
They advocated for the establishment of a minister or commissioner for family carers, and policies to support carers physically, mentally and financially.
