Fear of the unknown has been stopping human beings in their tracks for millennia. Sadly, this same fear is keeping older Australians from accessing Aged Care services that they sometimes desperately need. And it’s not just the fear of aging.

Many older people, our parents and grandparents, are worried about losing their independence. They’re worried about being put into an aged care facility, far from family and friends. They’re also worried about losing their beloved family home.

As advocates for keeping you well at home for longer, we hope to dispel some common myths around Aged Care and help you understand what happens next.

Home safety tips for seniors

Home-based care has so many benefits, such as having someone to do housework, so you have more time to enjoy with your loved ones. You can also think about ways you could improve safety around the home to enjoy healthy living into the future. Home safety fixtures like rails to support mobility and personal alarms for peace of mind, combined with respite care to ease ongoing stress, are just a few ways to stay well at home for longer.

What to consider when finding a provider

When you’ve decided to arrange home-based aged care services to help your loved one with day-to-day living, it’s the start of a process. So, you’ve arranged an assessment through My Aged Care and been approved for a Home Care Package (HCP). Now it’s time to choose a Home Care Package provider who’ll deliver the home care services. You might find the array of HCP providers confusing. Here are some considerations and some questions you might need to ask your potential provider to help pick the one to suit your needs and budget.

How My Aged Care works to meet your home care needs

If a senior person you care about is beginning to have difficulty doing their usual day to day living, stopping doing things they used to love or not taking care of themselves because it’s harder to get around, then it’s time to look into aged care services. My Aged Care can help with obtaining the support needed.

‘Wait, did you say aged care? But my senior loved one’s not ready to go into a nursing home.’

Did you know My Aged Care is a portal to both residential care AND services to help at home? You can find out about getting government-subsidised home-based aged care services through My Aged Care.

How to get home-based aged care help through councils

Your local council can be a terrific resource for health and aged care services, keeping seniors well at home for longer.

What to consider before managing your own Home Care Package

Taking on a self-managed Home Care Package can give you direct choice and control. Not paying for a case manager can leave you with more funds to spend on care services. You’ll need to consider carefully if the choice is right for you. While the fees may be significantly lower when self-managing, the work involved can be significant. Consider where you want to spend your time.

You could receive aged care services at home

It’s natural to worry about loved ones as they get older. It’s important a loved one maintains their independence and home care services do not take away from this. Rather, a little bit of support at the right time can make a big difference to keeping someone independent and at home. Is it time you asked for help? You can choose from a range of different types of home care and home health services, to keep seniors well at home for longer.

Caring for seniors has a significant impact on a carer’s life. When I gave evidence at the Royal Commission on Aged Care, I acknowledged it’s a burden I willingly endured to delay my nanna’s placement into residential aged care for as long as possible. The same is true for many families. To ease overwhelm in providing aged care at home, it’s crucial to plan ahead and avoid being caught out by the long wait times for services. Becoming informed about home-based aged care supports earlier ensures you’re prepared for the help you need, when you need it.

Maintain wellbeing with services for seniors at home

When we’re doing it tough, there’s nothing like the comforts of home to help us feel safe, secure, and give us the resilience to bear the hard times. So when your loved ones are needing that bit of extra support as they get older, you’ll be relieved to know there are ways to help seniors to stay at home longer.