If you have recently become a carer to a loved one, it can be a daunting and scary experience. Caregiving is an extremely rewarding task, but it can also be difficult and beginners can often find it hard to know what to do and if they’re giving the right kind of care. It is normally best to seek support from an external party such that your caregiving duties does not negatively impact your close relationship with your loved one. Using the services of home carers, home nurses, and even aged care homes can help to ensure your loved one receives the highest level of care and can continue living with dignity and quality of life. Here are caregiving guide in Australia and how Homage can help you.
What are the different types of caregiving options available in Australia?
In Australia, people who require extra assistance due to medical conditions are fortunate enough to have multiple options when it comes to their care. This also means that loved ones have the benefit of choice depending on their needs and preferences.
Home care
Home care takes place in a person’s own residence. This allows them to stay put in a comfortable and familiar environment, without the need to move or travel. Home care is performed by experienced and trained caregivers who can assist with a range of tasks to make life easier and more comfortable.
Some of the common things that home carers can do include:
Personal care
Personal care includes all the daily activities that we need to be looked after. This ranges from assistance with eating and getting dressed, to bathing, toileting, transferring and continence.
Medical escort
Trips to medical appointments, treatment and scans can be tricky for people with lower mobility. A medical escort can accompany the person and facilitate easy transport.
Night care
Night care is specialised care through the night so that loved ones can be helped with toileting and anything else they need. It also prevents the risk of night-time wandering and falls.
Respite care
Respite care is short term care to allow regular caregivers to take a break and recharge.
Home nursing
Home nursing is provided by qualified and experienced nurses who are passionate about providing high level medical care to people in their own homes. This allows people with chronic conditions and illnesses or those recovering from surgery to receive nursing care in their own homes, limiting the need for hospital visits and doctors’ appointments.
Home nursing care services include:
Simple nursing care
Basic medical procedures, such as changing a feeding tool.
Complex nursing procedures
More difficult nursing care, including injections and wound care, are classed as complex. These need to be done by a qualified nurse with experience.
Post-surgery
After surgery, the road to recovery can be long. Home nursing allows loved ones to focus on providing love and support, leaving the tricky medical care to the nurses.
Medication administration
It’s common for older patients or people with cognitive decline to forget to take medication. Home nurses can ensure the right dosage is taken at the right time of day.
Urgent situations
Sometimes caregivers are caught off guard by the sudden need for nursing care. Rather than a trip to the hospital, an at-home nurse can come to you quickly and provide the required assistance.
Supporting Your Family and Providing Care from Afar
Aged care homes
Residential aged care is sometimes an option for older people living with complicated medical needs. Aged care homes provide around-the-clock care, usually provided by a mix of both qualified nurses and other caregivers. Residential aged care also can offer additional services, including all meal preparation and laundry, activities, outings and more.
Although aged care homes do offer a comprehensive service, the disadvantage is that the older person needs to move from the comfort and familiarity of their own home. This can be especially disorientating for people with dementia and similar conditions. Additionally, aged care homes often require an assessment to determine the level of care needed by your elderly loved one (also known as an ACAT assessment). The cost of this type of care differs according to a variety of factors, including your loved one’s financial situation and their ability to access government funding. However, it is almost always more expensive than home care or home nursing.
Factors to consider when choosing a type of care
When it comes to care for your older loved ones, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The type of care that is more suitable will depend on the individual situation of the person, including their health conditions and medical needs, the home they are currently living in, and your access to different types of care.
Choosing a type of care for your older loved one is a big decision, however it is important to note that in most cases, you can change your levels of care as you go and as your circumstances change. Your loved one might only need some assistance with daily living activities (such as bathing and toileting) to begin with, but in a few months they could require access to professional nurses.
Health status and needs
As we age, our health needs generally become more complex and multi-faceted, as we face higher risks of disease combined with the natural deterioration of the body. Most older people will not simply have one medical condition, such as arthritis; they will have a primary concern coupled with the need to monitor their heart health, some memory loss, and perhaps gastro-intestinal issues. It’s all part of getting older.
The health status of your loved one will be the main factor in deciding on their level of care. An older person with limited medical issues who still has some independence may be fine with the occasional help at home from a home caregiver. On the other end of the scale, a person who has lost their mobility and has a serious illness will require either comprehensive home nursing, or a place in an aged care home that can provide for their medical needs.
Accommodation
The living arrangement of your elderly loved one is another major factor when choosing their type of care. Statistically, most older Australians want to stay in their own home for as long as possible. Home is a safe place where they feel comfortable and are embedded in their local community.
However, you need to consider if their current living arrangements are suitable for their condition. For example, your older loved one may have lost the ability to climb stairs, which is a problem if they live in a multi-storey house. Consider whether modifications can be made to the home, such as adding ramps or lifts, or moving the bedroom downstairs.
If the home isn’t suitable, you may consider moving your older loved one into a space that is more appropriate for their needs. Ideally, this would be a single-level home with a clear layout (for example, the toilet is close to the bedroom).
Location
As we grow older and our ability to move around and travel easily diminishes, the importance of our local neighbourhood grows. Many older Australians have lived in the same area for decades. They know their neighbours and local shopkeepers, find it easy to navigate the streets, and feel comfortable in a familiar environment. Moving an older person out of this safe community space can be distressing. If you do need to move into a different home – whether that be a smaller house or an aged care facility – try to find an option that is still in the same location.
Wait time
Sometimes, the health of an older person can deteriorate rapidly. It could be that they have had a fall and need greater assistance than usual, that they have needed surgery and have more substantial care needs, or that a disease or illness is progressing faster than anticipated. When this happens, waiting for months for a spot in an aged care home isn’t an option. Consider what is going to be a quick and accessible type of care for your loved one. Often, a home nursing service will be available faster than anything else.
Training and certifications
When looking at home care options, always ask about the specific training and certifications of the people providing the care. Some care providers don’t insist on highly trained and experienced employees. It’s important that the level of care required is matched by the caregivers training, whether your loved one needs personal care, complex nursing, medication administration or more.
Other support available
Finally, when considering the type of care needed by your loved one, think about the other support they receive. Often, family and friends provide invaluable care. However, this type of caregiving can be draining and difficult, especially if you are balancing care with work, kids and other commitments. Try to find a care option that will work for everyone, allowing you to maintain your close and loving relationship with your elderly loved one while they receive the support they need.
Benefits of Home Care
Home care offers many benefits when compared to residential care options.
Affordability
Aged care homes can be extremely expensive, especially if your older loved one doesn’t qualify for government subsidies. Often, the buy-in cost of a room in an aged care home is very high and requires the older person to sell their home to afford it. The advantage of home care is that it is far more affordable, allowing your loved one to stay in their home and hold on to this important financial asset. You can also choose to have home care only for an amount that you can afford by limiting the number of hours that caregivers come to the home, and supplementing this with care provided by family members or friends.
Convenience
Moving home is stressful for everyone, and can be especially daunting for older people. Home care offers the convenience of staying in their own home, being treated and cared for in a place they know well, and having medical assistance by nurses or caregiver come to them to prevent the need for multiple doctor’s visits.
Peace of mind
Especially in recent times, many people have been fearful of the risks to their older loved ones when going into the community. COVID-19 has tragically taken the lives of many elderly Australians, including those living in aged care facilities. Staying at home and having a vaccinated and frequently tested professional caregiver come to them minimises the risk of infection and allows your loved one to stay safe.
Comfortable environment
Medical care, such as injections and feeding tube changes, can be uncomfortable. These sorts of procedures are often made worse by the need to sit in a waiting room beforehand and then a car or taxi on the way home. But when a nurse comes to the home, the difficult procedure is done quickly and easily in a familiar environment and then the older person is free to relax in their own home, or even take a nap.
Cost comparison
Caregiving can vary a lot by price, and many people will not be able to afford the more expensive options of residential aged care.
However, home care with Homage is affordable and accessible.
- Daily Living Care provided by a local support worker starts at just $55 an hour.
- Nursing Care provided by local licensed nurses starts at $100 an hour.
How to engage home care with Homage
If you want to try out caregiving services offered by Homage, it’s easy to get started. We can discuss the care needs required and we will work together with you to create a personalised care plan that will work for you and your loved one.
Caregiving is often complex and people’s needs will shift and change with time. Let us help you figure out the best way you can best care for your loved one.
