Residential aged care services

For many people, the best way to access aged care and support in Australia is to move into a residential aged care service. Typically, this is for older people who can no longer live at home and need help and support with everyday tasks or health care.

Residential care services should all provide you with safe, quality care through services such as:

• Accommodation: Your room and all the items you'll need to feel comfortable in your home, including furnishings and bedding.
• Hotel type services: Meeting your day-to-day needs such as meals, laundry, and social activities, as well as services that maintain the aged care home such as cleaning, heating and cooling, and maintenance of the grounds and building.
• Care services: Personal care such as bathing, eating, help with taking medications, and carrying out health treatments. Clinical care which may include special bedding, nursing services and therapy services such as speech therapy, podiatry (foot care) and physiotherapy.

The standard of accommodation and additional lifestyle services that are available in Australia range from modest options to the luxurious and are based on your financial capacity and location.

While some fees are fixed regardless of which service you choose to live in, other fees are variable. Understanding these fees and potential hidden costs is critical in making a good decision. We'll discuss this in detail in a future article.

Home care

During the first round of hearings in the aged care royal commission, we heard that many Australians would prefer to be given support in their own home rather than move into residential care.

From discussions with our clients, in-home support remains a popular option. It would seem the previous government agreed when it announced funding for 80,000 new home care support packages in the 2021 Federal Budget.  The plan was for this funding to be made available over the following two financial years and this may be reviewed by the federal government in upcoming policy reviews and budgets.

The term “home care package” refers to a fixed amount of money allocated by the federal government to pay for services which will enable an older person to access the support required to continue living at home.

The amount of money provided depends on the approved package level, based on an assessment of the person’s needs. Recipients do not receive the cash in hand, and instead will need to choose an approved home care provider who will receive the funds. That support provider will then work with the recipient to decide how the money is to be best spent.

Services might include cleaning, help with showering, or basic home maintenance such as changing light bulbs or installing a raised toilet seat. Services could also include utilising support people to help with shopping and meal preparation, and some health services such as physiotherapy.

Don’t hold your breath though as there are limited places for care in Australian homes. First, the person undergoes an assessment process, and if approved, will join a queue with thousands of other Australians to wait for funding.

Hopefully, the newly announced packages will help to reduce the waiting time, but most of our clients are in the fortunate position of being able to afford to privately fund in-home care while waiting, or to top-up the package received, if they qualify for financial support.

With proper forward planning, we can help you to access the right funds and resources to ensure your home care experience meets the level of support you require.

Respite care

Caregiving for an elderly, ill, or disabled family member is a demanding job, and few are equipped to do it alone. Finding respite and aged care services can provide a vital break.

If you're a primary caregiver, respite care provides temporary relief, enabling you to take a much-needed break from the demands of caring for a sick, ageing, or disabled family member.

Respite care can take place in your own home, at day-care centres, or at residential services that offer overnight stays. Whether it’s for just a few hours a week or an extended vacation, seeking respite care can help ease the burden of family caregiving and relieve stress, restore your energy, and promote balance in your life. It can also prevent you from becoming exhausted, isolated, or even burned out.

Respite care can also benefit the person you’re caring for, providing them with variety, stimulation, socialisation with their peers, and a welcome change of routine.

Want to know more? Let us help you to start thinking about the options which best suit your situations, either for yourself or for a family member.