Not everyone who requires regular care needs to relocate to an aged care home. Many Australians often seek an in-between option — a community where they can maintain some level of independence while accessing all the care they need. Assisted living services emerge as a compelling solution, which can offer a supportive environment while simultaneously preserving personal freedom.
What Are Adult Assisted Living Services?
Adult assisted living involves residence in services communities, typically apartments, which you can find under the terms “services apartments” or sometimes “assisted living units.
It is important to mention that assisted living is not the same as traditional nursing homes. An adult living in a community with assisted living services can still benefit from private spaces, similar to those you would have in a regular home. In other words, assisted living provides support services but also fosters independence.
Senior Assisted Living Services
Assisted living services are frequently associated with seniors. As individuals grow older, assisted living can become an appealing choice as it provides greater personal care services compared to home care. However, it doesn’t come at the cost of privacy, as residents are not under the constant clinical supervision of nursing home staff.
Typically, a combination of safety concerns and a desire for convenient living will drive seniors towards exploring assisted living services, where they can receive emergency assistance, daily meals, cleaning services, transportation support, and round-the-clock security to enhance their quality of life in old age.
Assisted Living for Couples
There is a misconception that assisted living services are only for single individuals. In reality, there are plenty of options to support couples too. Couples in assisted living residences can still enjoy the comfort of a home with 24/7 professionally trained support, without sacrificing privacy and social life as part of living in a community setting.
It is important to know that assisted living services take into consideration the best solution to improve and maintain your quality of life, which is why there are many opportunities for couples to continue living as couples too.
Assisted Living Services for People with Disabilities
While assisted living is predominantly associated with senior individuals, it can also be a suitable option for younger adults with a disability. For individuals with disabilities, it can be challenging to find a balance between independent living and having access to the support they need in their day-to-day lives.
As such independent assisted living can offer access to professional care, as well as on-site transportation, and assistance with mobility needs. At the same time, the individual can maintain a private living space that not only meets their medical and physical needs but also their emotional needs.
Dementia Assisted Living Services
Individuals with dementia can greatly benefit from assisted living services when they are unable to stay in their home. Indeed, this solution can let them maintain some level of independence with tailored professional care, ensuring their safety and comfort at all times.
For dementia patients, the emphasis tends to be on personal care, daily chores, healthy meals, and social engagement, but the core principle of assisted living services is to provide tailored services to meet individual requirements. In other words, the type of services individuals receive may depend on the complexity of their changing needs.
Mental Health Assisted Living Services
It is worth mentioning that assisted living can extend its benefits to individuals dealing with mental health conditions. The services offered can also include regular support from mental health clinicians and trained counselors. Additionally, there is direct access to trained staff in crisis situations, which can add an extra layer of security.
How do I Know Whether Assisted Living Services Are Suitable?
Determining whether assisted living is suitable for you or your loved ones involves the consideration of important factors, such as
- The ability to maintain one’s home,
- Handling simple daily tasks, including personal hygiene and cooking
- Handling complex medication management
- Receiving adequate care from relatives who live with you vs. living alone
- The desire for a larger, supportive community
Assessing your personal needs and evaluating your current living situation will help figure out whether assisted living services can align with your individual requirements. This may not be the best solution for everyone, as it depends entirely on your needs and situation.
Am I Eligible for Assisted Living Services for Seniors?
Government-supported assisted living services are designed to make life more comfortable for Australians aged 65 and above. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals can be eligible from age 50 and over. Bear in mind that you will need to be eligible in terms of needs to receive these services.
The range of services offered can cover many different aspects of your life, including housekeeping, gardening, medical care, paperwork assistance, companionship, and more.
You can call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422, responsible for overseeing eligibility and running a specific assessment to determine the type of care services you need. Your eligibility will be reviewed through a 6-to-8-week-long process, including a face-to-face assessment by the Aged Care Assessment Team.
Finding the Best Assistance Service
At this point, it is important to note that while there are residential assisted living services, depending on your situation, you may find that you could benefit more from receiving care services directly in your own home. The level of care you need to maintain your independence will be determined as part of a professional assessment for disability and senior care services. In other words, there are other options available if assisted living services are not the right fit for you or your loved ones.
Assisted Living Services facilitate maintaining a safe balance between care support and independence. As such, the best assistance care services for you are those that ensure you can be both as safely cared for and independent as possible for your well-being.
We urge you to gain a deeper understanding of the level of care you need when considering everyday assistance, as this could come in the form of:
- Home care packages, with assistance delivered directly to your home
- Assisted living services, where you have a private space within a caring community with round-the-clock security and medical support available
Additionally, in some situations, such as with someone living with severe disabilities, it may be easier to move in with assisted living services rather than make the necessary modifications to your home.
More information about assisted living services and the eligibility process is available through the NDIS and Aged Care.
