Aged Care

Aged care is a system of supports for older people either in their own home, or in an aged care (nursing) home. It can include help with everyday living (including cooking and cleaning), health care, specialised accommodation, and equipment to keep you mobile, such as walking frames or ramps. Aged care is Government-funded for eligible people. Find out more about aged care and if you need it . Home care vs residential aged care To help you decide what type of care you need, it’s important to understand the differences between the two. Home Care Home care aims to help you live independently in your own home for as long as possible. To achieve this, you’ll have access to support services including: Healthcare, such as nursing, physiotherapy and other allied healthcare Personal care – for example, dressing and showering Transport Housework Food and shopping, including meal preparation Social support to help you stay connected with the people and things you love Modifications

If you’re that person who will do anything to avoid or delay thinking about aged care, even when you know there’s a pressing need, then take heart: you’re not alone. Aged care gets a bad press – and rightly so in many cases, as the recent Royal Commission into Quality and Safety in Aged Care has shown. But aged care hesitancy is more complicated than fear of substandard services and abuse.   Our fear of aged care is deeply connected with our fear and rejection of ageing generally. From childhood we are told that old is bad, sad and lonely and we will go to great lengths to hide or deny the most natural of processes - the passing of time. As a result, we often avoid acknowledging age-related problems or even having practical conversations and, ironically, we put ourselves at greater risk in the long term.   If we want to be on the front foot about ageing well and – ideally, for most people – avoiding entry to residential care, we need to change some of our thinking, get smart and stop

As we age, we want the ability to do so independently – and conversations about aged care become more about the support we need to maintain our lifestyle and manage our health. But even when we’re living comfortably without any support, a little help from Mable can life easier in some surprising ways. Here at Mable, we love looking at ways that people can live independently for longer; whether it’s making your house a smart home, or taking steps to adapt your lifestyle to support independent living. It may be too early for you to start thinking about applying for a Home Care Package. But while you may not need assistance with the tasks of daily living like cooking, showering or mobility, that doesn’t mean that you can’t find support to make life a little easier via Mable. Mable is an online platform that enables you to find and engage independent support workers from within your local community. There might be people from your community who are providing social support and domestic a

If you ask older Australians what they aspire for as they age, chances are, ‘ remaining independent ’ will be among the top goals. Many Australians aim to age ‘in place’, in the comfort and familiarity of their own home. Here are five ways you can take steps now to remain independent for longer . Have support at hand The Guardian took a look at ways in which housing design can encourage independent living. They interviewed a number of housing professionals who identified onsite care as a key aspect to creating homes that support independence. While most people do not have high care needs, help at hand creates an important ‘safety net’ for people as they age. When looking specifically at creating housing for people with dementia, building experts advocated for the removal of specific ‘dementia wings’ as; “The stimulation of being part of a more diverse community and the support networks that emerge are far better for their wellbeing.” Even if you’re not living in a retirement village,

If you feel your parents are at a point in their life where they need a bit more support in their day to day lives, but that they value their independence and want to remain living at home, you can work together to help build them a safe, secure home and future. Ensure in-home safety According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare , seven in 10 older Australians are homeowners. If they’re finding it difficult to navigate their home and use their appliances and furniture, you should let them know that they can find help. Ensuring your loved ones’ safety is as simple as doing a quick check of their home. Spend some time looking in each room and assessing the potential hazards that may affect your parents. Take notice of trip hazards like floor rugs, furniture or boxes and find where more lighting is needed. Home modifications can be expensive, but by arranging furniture to minimise risk, you’re taking the first step to help your parents live comfortably and safely. Organise

Through aged care funding, you may be able to get access to services and support that are subsidised by the Australian Government. These services and support could include help with transport, housework, personal care as well as specialised long-term/short-term accommodation, such as nursing homes. Find out more about aged care and whether you need it . The first step to accessing funding is to meet the eligibility criteria. The government funds both home care and residential aged care (or nursing homes). Once you are eligible for either, the funding is paid to the 'approved provider' you choose, and you can start accessing the services set out during your assessment. In both cases — home care and residential aged care — the individual may need to pay a contribution too. Find out more about Support At Home fees and charges . Do you need aged care support? If you're over the age of 65, or an Indigenous Australian over the age of 50, and you're not managing things as well as you used

Convincing your parents or loved ones they might need support with daily living tasks can be challenging, but it shouldn’t need to be. With the right approach, it can be an opportunity to talk to your parents about how to maintain their independence for longer. Five things to consider when discussing support with your ageing parents 1. Seek a second opinion For many ageing parents, role reversal can be difficult to accept as adult children take on caregiver responsibilities. Finding support for your parents can initially involve a visit from a member of the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) . This removes personal biases and can get the ball rolling on a government funding application. 2. Allow your parents to take control Invite your parents to take control by asking them to browse the profiles of independent support workers in their local neighbourhood. They can select support workers themselves, start a conversation and together, decide what services will be provided and when, and

Every child goes through the difficult and often stressful process of finding support for ageing parents. Those needing aged care can also add to the strain, as many elderly people want nothing more than to remain living in their own homes. If you’re searching for a support solution for your parent or family member, there are a few things you should consider. Consider your parent’s finances Before you start looking into aged care options, you should consider what funds you can use to pay for the services, and whether your parents are eligible for any Government funding. Complete an aged care assessment My Aged Care is a government-run service that lets those requiring aged care access government-funded services such as in-home care, short-term support, and residential aged care. It can be useful to sign up to My Aged Care if you have little experience or knowledge in setting up aged care support for someone. To find out whether your parent is eligible for My Aged Care

Mable is all about empowering clients to make their own choices and decisions around their care. For older Australians who are continuing to live independently at home, support needs may change from time to time, and flexibility is important. Self-managing your own Home Care Package gives you control to change the services you receive, who provides them and when. Meet 72-year-old Trish, who has a team of independent support workers that she connected with on Mable to not just attend to her daily requirements but also provide companionship. She is on a Level 4 Home Care Package and accesses support for her day-to-day life including personal care, dressing, meals and household tasks. Trish also arranges to receive social support as part of her Home Care Package. “I also need someone who’ll do the creative, fun side with me so I can have a bit of fun.” That could be jigsaw puzzles, mosaics, watching comedies on TV or just having a good old chat. Having used traditional providers in the p