Do you need to arrange some extra assistance to enable an ageing relative to stay living in their home for longer? Perhaps you are considering a move into an aged care home. It can be confusing to know where to start in the search for an aged care provider. Here are some factors to take into account if you are beginning to navigate the aged care path.
The level of assistance required for the person needing care
Aged care assistance is generally divided into two categories. The first is home care, which allows an aged person to remain living in their own home (or an independent-living retirement village) with the help of visiting carers. Those carers can assist with everything from cleaning and shopping, through to showering and nursing support. The next level of care is full-time residential aged care, which occurs in a nursing home or aged care service. In this scenario, residents have access to nursing and support staff around-the-clock. If a person qualifies for government assistance, their aged care assistance will either be fully or partially subsidised by the taxpayer.
The first step to finding an aged care provider
The Australian Government has launched an online portal called My Aged Care (https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/). This is the first place to visit if you or an ageing relative need assistance with day-to-day life at home or require a bed in an aged care service. A government assessor will determine what level of care is needed and if you are eligible for home care, they will allocate a financial package to assist with the cost of home care services. From there you will be able to choose which provider you would like to perform those home care services for you. If you are assessed as being eligible for a bed in an aged care home, you can choose the aged care home you want from a list of local aged care providers.
What a home care worker can help with
A home care provider can do as much or as little as required, says Anglicare’s Group Manager of Community, Aged and Disability, Sue Montgomery. Clients are always in charge of what supports they would like their funding package spent on. “There’s domestic assistance like house cleaning or personal care where clients might have someone come in to help them have a shower.” Home care clients who are unable to drive can also be picked up and taken shopping or to appointments. Centre-based respite services are available too. “Social programs, group exercise activities and art classes are accessible through our Home Care lifestyle programs,’’ Montgomery says.
Questions to ask a home care provider if you need in-home care
There are big differences in home care providers. Finding a home care provider that has a large number of permanent staff across all categories - from domestic help to nursing and allied staff - will increase the likelihood that you’ll have the same core team of carers looking after you, Montgomery says.
Long-term relationships often mean more personalised care, rather than a carer just going through the motions of the task. “We have some home care clients that have been with us for up to 17 years, so there are some lovely relationships that develop over that time between clients and carers,’’ Montgomery says.
“We train all of our home care staff to identify changes in a client’s condition and to report back to us if they notice anything unusual. We can then initiate a review.’’
How to select the ‘right’ nursing home
Look beyond the aesthetics of the buildings and find out as much as possible about the level of care provided, Montgomery advises.
“People assume that the level of care given at all aged care homes is the same and so they select a particular place based on the fact their room had fresh paint and a better view of the garden,’’ she says.
“Instead I would be asking the provider: ‘what care and support services do you offer?’ and ‘what activities do you provide for residents?’.’’
And don’t just limit questions to the staff, Montgomery says. “If you are on a tour, ask permission to go up to some of the residents and ask how they find it there. Seeing if the current residents are happy is a big factor and you’ll often get a good feel for that as soon as you walk in.’’
Learn more about Anglicare’s Help at Home services and how we can support you.
