Is it time for your older loved one to receive aged care services? Most older Australians will require care at some point in their lives, and often it is loved ones who take the first steps to arrange care and support services. But it is easy to fall into some common traps when looking at aged care for the first time. We take a look at the common mistakes that people make when thinking about aged care and how best to avoid them.
What is aged care?
Aged care refers to any type of care that is specifically for older people, including elderly people with a disability and with health conditions. In Australia, we are fortunate to have many types of aged care available, depending on the individual needs of the older person. Using the services of home carers, home nurses, and residential aged care homes can ensure that older people receive the highest level of care and quality of life.
Common mistakes when considering aged care
1) Thinking ‘aged care’ means nursing homes
What do you think of when you think of ‘aged care’? For many Australians, aged care is associated with nursing homes. A lot of people assume that when their older loved one requires care, this will mean moving them out of their own home and going to an aged care facility that offers nursing care.
However, aged care is far broader than just nursing homes. Aged care encompasses multiple levels and types of care, from occasional assistance at home to live in aged care facilities.
This means that when your older loved one requires some additional care, they don’t need to lose all of their independence. In fact, it can be much more beneficial for older people to stay in their own home for as long as possible. Living in a comfortable and familiar space has been shown to be beneficial to the mental and physical health of older people, especially those with degenerative conditions.
2) Delaying the decision to seek support
Whether you are looking for aged care support for yourself or for an older loved one, it’s a good idea to seek support as soon as it becomes clear that it is required. Delaying the decision to seek support can mean missing out on services and waiting longer than needed for care.
It’s not uncommon for people to find it difficult to ask for help. Similarly, you may not want to recognise that your parent, grandparent, or another older loved one is not as capable as they used to be. But ignoring the need for assistance can lead to more serious problems and can even be dangerous.
In some cases, accessing aged care services can be a longer process than many people realise. This is especially true when a person requires an aged care assessment or in person care assessment. The process of arranging for this assessment, waiting for the results, and organising the level of care that is needed can take weeks. Sometimes an older person can be left waiting for care in the meantime, which can cause their condition to deteriorate.
3) Not taking control of support needs
It’s important to remember that, even as we age, we continue to have agency and a right to make our own decisions. Unfortunately, when being transitioned into care services, some older people can feel like it is something that is happening to them, rather than a choice that they are making.
Older people need to take control of their own support needs and advocate for themselves wherever possible. If this is difficult, asking a trusted loved one to help is a good idea.
4) Not knowing your care options
Always do plenty of research before committing to aged care. There are multiple options available when considering aged care support and different types will be suitable to different individuals.
There are many factors that can influence the type of care that is best suited to you. For example, you may have significant medical conditions and health problems and require nursing care, which may mean that you need to have a registered nurse regularly visiting your home or you may need to move into an aged care facility where nursing staff are available. In contrast, you may not have any serious health conditions, but you may have mobility problems that make it difficult to complete day to day tasks. This could mean you need modifications made to your home and a carer to visit and help you with everyday activities such as cleaning and personal care.
Other factors that can influence the level of care that you need include where you live, your current living arrangements, the amount of support you receive from family and friends, the medications you are taking, and your ability to travel independently.
5) Not knowing your financial options
Most people think that aged care in Australia is very expensive, and some older people are concerned about how they will afford greater support when they need it. However, there is not a strong understanding of the true cost of aged care, the different finance options available, and how the choices you make can affect the total cost.
The buy-in cost for a room in an aged care home is often very high. However, at home care is far more affordable, and professional services can be supplemented with care provided by family and friends. In addition, your older loved one can keep their own home and not need to sell this important asset prematurely.
It’s important that all people looking at aged care options know what government funding they are eligible for. Getting an ACAT assessment means you may be able to access government subsidised support services. Most older people will also receive an income means assessment to determine their financial situation and the amount that they could potentially contribute to their own care costs.
6) Letting the system choose
There are many different aged care options available, and you can decide if you want to manage your own or have someone else take control for you. Whatever you decide, it’s important not to let the aged care system make choices for you without you fully understanding the implications of these. Always involve a strong advocate on your behalf, such as a family member or friend, so that you have someone in your corner.
7) Making last minute decisions
Accessing aged care services is a big decision, especially if this involves selling the family home and moving into an aged care facility. However, even a decision like bringing a professional carer into an older person’s life is a big change and an important choice to make. Carers make a huge impact on a person’s life and it’s crucial that an older person feels safe and comfortable with the person who is helping them.
When an older person’s condition deteriorates quickly or something happens to dramatically change their level of ability (for example, they have a fall and lose their mobility overnight), it is easy for loved ones to rush into making a decision about their care. However, even when it seems like a decision needs to be made quickly, it is important that the choice is not rushed. Being prepared with information ahead of time can help to make sure that decisions are always well considered.
8) Only thinking about short term needs
It is easy to be focused on the immediate needs of your loved one when considering aged care, but it is beneficial to think about long term needs as well.
For example, your older loved one might be diagnosed with a condition such as Parkinson’s disease or dementia. Initially, their needs may not change that much and they only require some additional assistance, such as personal care at home and assistance traveling to medical appointments. However, these conditions and similar health problems are degenerative and get worse over time.
Due to this, it is important to consider the trajectory of the condition that your loved one has been diagnosed with and think about the level of care that they may need in the future. This can help when planning ahead for different types of care in the future. It also gives you time to research funding options and arrange for any assessments as needed.
9) Staying with a service that’s not working
When an elderly loved one requires care, it can feel overwhelming looking at the many different options and choices available. Due to this, the decision can sometimes be rushed or not well thought through. This is understandable given what a stressful situation it can be, especially when a loved one requires care at short notice or their needs change dramatically. However, if a service is chosen and it isn’t working well for an older person, it’s important that they don’t stay with this service.
Changing between service providers and types of services is simple. A common complaint amongst older people who have carers visit them in their own home is that the carer doesn’t understand their needs or is not equipped to do the tasks they have been assigned. If this is the case, loved ones should consider other options. It may be that the older person requires nursing care from a registered nurse, rather than the lower level of care provided by a regular caregiver. It may be that the older person needs more or less assistance – for example, that the carer is taking away from their independence by not allowing them to help out with cooking meals, which is something your older loved one takes a lot of joy from. Or it may simply be that the personalities of the carer and the care recipient clash, and a new person is needed that is going to make your older loved one feel more comfortable.
Moving your older loved one out of an aged care facility and into a new facility can be more difficult, especially if they have ‘bought-in’ to the residential facility and secured a room on an ongoing basis. You should always do plenty of research before committing to a residential aged care arrangement.
10) Choosing care without enough consideration
As discussed above, it is possible to swap between service types and providers. However, this doesn’t mean that you should quickly choose a care option without proper consideration. Introducing a carer to an older person’s life is oftentimes a big change and has a huge impact on their day-to-day life and their overall wellbeing. It is vital that plenty of thought and discussion goes into the decision.
When choosing a care provider, always:
- Involve all the necessary people. This could include family members, friends, healthcare workers, community advocates and more. Anyone who can provide insight into what is best for your older loved one needs to be consulted.
- Communicate clearly with the care provider. Make it clear what your expectations are and what the needs of your older loved one are.
- Do your research. Find out what services they offer, how you can tailor these to your loved one’s needs, and what kind of experience their employees have. Try to read reviews or speak to people who have already used the service.
- Keep your loved one informed. It is there life that is being directly affected by introducing a care provider, so they need to be happy with the decision being made.
When looking into aged care, there are some key things to consider.
| ☑︎ |
Physical capacity – can you loved one move around their home and their community with or without assistance? |
| ☑︎ | Mental capacity – does your loved one have any cognitive decline? |
| ☑︎ | Health conditions – does your loved one have any diseases or conditions? |
| ☑︎ | Disability – does you loved one have a disability? |
| ☑︎ | Current living arrangements – does your loved one live in a safe environment that accommodates their needs? |
| ☑︎ | Location – is your loved one close to services (such as hospitals) if required? |
| ☑︎ | Other support available – what support does your loved one receive from family and friends? |
| ☑︎ | Affordability – what is your loved one’s budget for care? |
| ☑︎ | Funding – does your loved one qualify for any government financial assistance? |
Choosing aged care options for yourself or your loved one can feel like a difficult and overwhelming task. However, by following the above points and avoiding some common mistakes, you can ensure that the aged care options you choose are appropriate, supportive, and delivered at the right time.
