Everyone needs a break. The peak holiday period may have come and gone, but if part or most of that time was spent supporting or hosting elderly parents or loved ones in need, then chances are it wasn’t totally relaxing. If you are a full-time carer, it’s even more important to get some proper downtime.
The attitude people have towards mum’s or dad’s money can get in the way of older Australians receiving the care they need in their last years. Family members may say they are happy to throw whatever resources they have to keep loved ones at home or in the aged care home of their choice. But
For many self-funded retirees who have never interacted with Centrelink, a move into aged care is the point where they learn ‘what’s yours is mine’ and vice versa. It’s a tough time to be entering residential aged care, but for some people there is little or no choice. Caring for someone at home 24/7 under
Looking after a family member or friend and need time off for you or them? A national network can assist. Back in the day when we could travel freely, I had booked and paid for a weekend getaway interstate. My mother was recovering from a routine operation in hospital and doing well. She was doing
Canberra’s first independent dementia home is just months away from opening but owner Rodney Jilek is already thinking about replicating the idea elsewhere. The not-for-profit cottage-style residential aged care option will accommodate up to six “guests” at a time. There will be a house manager, two carers and a registered nurse. It will operate alongside a day
Self-management is emerging as an important and sometimes only option, to deliver aged care under the myriad reforms to the sector introduced since 2013. Bob Campbell was grateful when, after a 12-month wait, he was assigned an interim level one home care package. The 89-year-old had received approval for a level two home care package
Give careful thought to who acts on your behalf when you can no longer make your own decisions as even your children may not put your needs first. When Catherine Dawson objected strongly to going into residential aged care, her adult children looked immediately to enact the enduring power of attorney on which they were signatories. After
Hotels and aged care homes generally have little in common, although increasingly similar services are emerging in both – including higher standards of accommodation, food and entertainment.As at June 2017, about 230 aged care homes had special government approval to offer extra services and were charging more for about 7500 rooms accordingly. The increased cost for these
Home care providers have until the end of November to publish pricing information relating to the services they offer, including any administration and case management fees. But it will be a further six months before full transparency and information comparing pricing will be available on the government’s My Aged Care website. In a move not unlike
A record number of older Australians are receiving Government subsidised care in their own home. However a major shortage in the number of home care packages, together with growing care needs, means more people can expect to use their own assets to pay for the care they need if they want to stay put longer.