Where To Begin
When you first encounter the need for aged care services the amount of information is overwhelming. It’s difficult to know where to begin and often you just stumble across relevant information. SeniorScape aims to help provide you with direction and the confidence to plan a pathway for yourself or seniors you care for.
Time of challenge
Time for a conversation
Time for a change
As our parents or seniors we care for grow older, changes to their lifestyles may need to be considered. This is often an emotional and stressful time when adjustments need to be acknowledged.
- Care Planning
- Living Choices
- Home Modification
- Transport
- Staying Connected
- Staying Physically Active
- Aged Care Benefits
- Safety
Planning your pathway may look like something like this
The following links will assist by taking you directly to the relevant information on myagedcare.gov.au
Acknowledgment
To acknowledge the situation and be able to plan and determine how best to provide help sometimes a difficult conversation needs to take place. These links may assist you.
Assessment
The Australian Government established My Aged Care www.myagedcare.gov.au to provide information and access to relevant services within aged care. Once registered with My Aged Care, you can have a free assessment to determine how much help you may need and what level of care or support you are eligible for.
There are two types of assessments carried out by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). An ACAT assessment is for more complex needs, whereas a RAS assessment is for low level support.
Approval
An ACAT team member will visit you to talk about your health, daily routine, social activities, general concerns and your support network. Once all this information is collated, you will receive your assessment in writing, advising you of the level of care that meets your needs, along with services and support you may be eligible for with Government funding. Privately funded services are also available and easily accessible.
Access
In Home Care
Many people want to stay in their own homes and live independently for as long as possible, but may need some extra help to make this possible. Assistance comes in many forms and an assessment by the government’s Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) will determine your level of care and help you find the right support either with subsidies or through a private provider.
In Home Care
CHSP
Low level support
Home Care Package
More complex needs
Retirement Village
A Retirement Village is a residential community designed for older people who are generally able to care for themselves. The Village offers a range of accommodation options, services and facilities, activities and socialisation opportunities catering to many different lifestyle choices.
Residential Aged Care
Residential Aged Care is for people who can no longer live independently in their own homes. Different types of care provided range from personal care for daily activities through to 24 hour nursing care.
May also be called: Residential Aged Care, Aged Care Home, Aged Care Facility, Nursing Home
Short Term Care
Restorative, transitional and respite care is either planned or emergency temporary care which allows loved seniors or their carers to take a break either in their own homes or in residential facilities.
Short Term Care
-Respite
-Restorative
-Transitional
Agreement
As everyone’s financial situation differs, so do the costs related to the care services that best meet your needs.
Your contribution towards these services depends on what you can afford. Your income and assets will be looked at to determine how much, if at all, you are expected to contribute.
All Aged Care agreements vary between providers but generally a residential agreement or a home care agreement is a legal agreement between a resident and the aged care home and sets out rights and obligations of all parties. Good advice is available here.
Adjustment
Moving and change is stressful for anyone. Transitioning to a retirement village, residential aged care or a new way of life in your own home is confronting and it may take time to adjust. Recognising and acknowledging change such as living in a communal environment, saying goodbye to sentimental possessions or opening your home to support services may be difficult and it may take a while to adjust to this new way of life. Here are some useful links that may help you.