PLANNING FOR AGED CARE
If your needs are increasing or you are looking after an older person, you should start to plan for future care needs well in advance. Everyone’s healthcare and lifestyle needs are different and depend on your stage of life, health, financial situation and the family or other kinds of support you may have.
Most people prefer to live independently for as long as possible, while others may need to move into residential aged care for more help with day-to-day tasks or health care.
Whatever your situation, your needs may change as you get older. It is a good idea to think about the kind of care you will want so that if the time comes that you need more assistance, your family or support network can help you make the transition as smoothly as possible.
There is a wide range of charitable, community-based, local government, private, religious and state government aged care providers offering different services, including home support and respite care services (which can help you to stay at home longer), and residential aged care.
Home Support Services
There is a range of home support services that can help you remain in your home such as:
- personal care for bathing and dressing
- housework
- social activities
- meals and food preparation
- transport
- physical exercise
- mobility aids and other products
- nursing care
- occupational therapy, physiotherapy and podiatry
- gardening, home maintenance and modifications
- counselling
Home Care Packages
If you have more complex needs you may want to consider Home Care Packages, which provide coordinated and consumer-directed services tailored to meet your specific care needs including:
- personal care services, such as help with showering or dressing
- help with household tasks, home modifications and transport
- nursing, physiotherapy, dietetics, and hearing and vision services
There is currently a 12 – 18 month waiting list on Home Care Packages so we highly recommend that you enter the system NOW even if your care needs change over time.
RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE
If you need more help with day-to-day tasks or healthcare it might be time to consider other options, such as moving into a residential aged care home where you will have continuous support and care. Residential aged care services can support your changing needs and you can either move in permanently or for a short stay (respite).
This is a decision that should be made by you and your family/ support network. Deciding to move into a residential aged care home is often an emotional time where there may be some uncertainty about the future. We can assist you and your family through this confusing, complex, and comprehensive process from the beginning. Please contact our Aged Care Financial Planning Specialists Nicola Henley and Nicole Christie for further information.
Before you can live in a residential aged care home you will need to have an ACAS assessment. Please contact us and we can provide you with further details.
RESPITE CARE
Caring for someone can be a very tiring experience. If you are caring for an older family member and need a short break, respite care is a good option to consider. Respite care services give you a chance to get some rest, enjoy some personal social activities or catch up on things that you need to do in your own life.
Respite services include:
- in-home care
- social activities and day outings
- overnight care
- short stays in aged care homes
- emergency assistance if something happens to you.
With the Christmas and holiday season approaching, Aged Care facilities are already reaching full capacity with the additional placement of respite care residents to give family members a break over the holiday season. We highly recommend that you act now to ensure that your family member can be placed accordingly. Please contact us today.