Preparing to engage in-home care for seniors You might feel uncomfortable bringing a caregiver or support worker into your or your senior loved one’s home at first. It’s good to keep in mind that reputable in-home care providers are committed to building positive relationships with their senior clients and families. Their role is to treat your senior loved one with dignity and respect. If you’re worried about potential pitfalls with in-home care, you can prepare for the best outcome and learn what to do if a caregiver is not meeting your expectations. These tips will give you confidence to ge ..read more

Aged care planning helps you live well at home It’s not just our seniors who enjoy the comforts of home. Being able to spend time with our senior loved ones in a relaxed home environment brings joy and togetherness for families. Older people can be supported to live well at home, maintaining health, mobility and social connection. Being prepared for ageing in place can make all the difference to a senior’s quality of life. Let’s look at what ageing in place means for you and how you can plan for it ..read more

What is involved in an aged care assessment? Talking about changing needs, and seeking help with living at home, can be a bewildering and stressful experience for seniors. When undertaking an aged care assessment, the clinician needs to hear all of a senior’s concerns so they can recommend all the services needed. It’s not a time for your senior loved one to ‘grin and bear it’, or they might miss out on valuable help. Being prepared and having an advocate in the process is vital to getting approved for the right supports, which directly impacts the services and amount of funding seniors may r ..read more

How to talk to your parents about home-based aged care Quite often we find it’s the senior mum of the family who holds out on getting home care services. She’s been looking after her family and herself for too long to admit she needs help. Senior dads can also be unwilling to let on that they would welcome some help around the house. But the key is that accessing home-based care can support your ageing parents to maintain their independence. Start having conversations early, to acknowledge and address any concerns about engaging home care services ..read more

Understanding care plans for home-based aged care A care plan is a document that outlines a person's home care needs and the services they will receive to meet those needs. It’s an individualised plan, so it’s developed by assessing an older person’s unique needs. The care plan can be adjusted to include more or different services as an older person’s needs change over time. Care managers make sure an older person is receiving the right home care services for their needs ..read more

How to get help arranging home care through My Aged Care Did you know you don’t have to deal with My Aged Care yourself? An older person seeking home care can appoint a My Aged Care Representative to coordinate services on their behalf. If you’re caring for an older person, you can get help with this responsibility too as you can even appoint a professional such as Empower Aged Care Consulting to be a representative with My Aged Care. An experienced healthcare professional can help you understand what home care you’re eligible for, provide independent advice for informed decisions and make al ..read more

Home Care Package fees charged by providers now capped The new caps on Home Care Package fees are good news for older people and families. The changes introduced from 1 January 2023 make the fees charged for managing Home Care Packages more transparent when comparing providers. When less of your Home Care Package funds are eaten up by fees, there are more care hours available for older people. Having an understanding of the fees you may have to pay can help you get value for money from your Home Care Package ..read more

Your older loved one’s mental health is just as important as their physical health Growing older can be a joy. The daily struggle to get the work-life balance right is no longer an issue, worrying about what people think of you is a thing of the past, and generally your time is your own. But sometimes, a sudden bereavement, being no longer able to drive, needing care for the first time or experiencing serious illness can shake an older person’s sense of self. So, it’s important to be aware of how these changes can affect your older loved one’s mental health and what you can do to support them ..read more

The importance of aged care financial planning Worrying about finances can mean older people carry on in increasingly difficult circumstances at home, not seeking the help they need. They may be assuming home help will cost too much, feeling like My Aged Care is too complicated, or not even knowing there are home care services available to help with daily living. Regardless of whether an older person is a self-funded retiree or receives an aged pension, there are affordable home care options available and financial planning can assist – particularly when dealing with Home Care Packages. Getti ..read more

How to plan a relaxed festive season for older people and their families The festive season can be a busy time, and even more so when you’re caring for an older person along with family and work responsibilities. You might be going away, your careworker might be on holidays, or you might be bringing your older loved one to share Christmas with you. Planning ahead with home care can really save Christmas ..read more