Older Australians are not always willing or interested in moving to a care home. Instead, many prefer to continue to live in their own homes for as long as they can.
For some, this is about routine. It ensures that they are able to remain in an environment where they feel comfortable and that is familiar to them. For others, it’s about the location. They might feel part of the local community or they could want to be close with their family.
Finally, many believe that by relocating to a care facility, they will be giving up their independence. There are plenty of older Australians who want to keep as much of their independence as they can for as long as possible.
Despite this, older Australians who continue to live at home may still require some form of support. This could be necessary to ensure that they remain safe and that they are able to gain a high quality of life.
This is perhaps one of the reasons why assistance at home is becoming more popular across Australia. Indeed, home care increased by 31% over the ten years between 2008 and 2018. As well there being a high level of demand for this option, it is also true to say that there are a greater number of possibilities for care at home today than ever before. Here are some of the different choices that are available for older Australians who require care at home.
Medication Supervision
One type of care that you can receive at home is medication supervision. Depending on the type of medication you are on, you might need someone to come to your home and administer or supervise certain medications. This is done to make sure that you are taking the correct dosage of the medication. Some of the things that can be included in this type of assistance are eye drops, creams, liquid medications, and patches.
You can also get phone calls to help remind you to take your medication if you know how to administer it yourself. Alternatively a medical professional can come to your home and ensure that you are provided with the right instructions on how to administer your own medication.
General Support
General support is almost entirely focused on the quality of an individual’s life and their well being. It will typically involve a provider completing general day to day activities. This could include keeping a property neat and tidy or even assistance with gardening.
There are many tasks that become more difficult as you age. With general support, these tasks are taken off your hands and you still get to enjoy the home you live in. This is particularly beneficial for individuals who are living in larger homes that require more maintenance.
It’s useful for empty nesters who never relocated from the family home where their children grew up. Ultimately, a property like this is going to have a lot of unnecessary space and areas that need to be managed effectively.
There is a massive list of tasks that can be completed as part of general support. The services offered will depend on the specific requirements of the elderly individual. For instance, while some may require help with cleaning, others need support with the preparation of meals.
In certain situations, an elderly individual could also need support with grooming, bathing and dressing.
With general support, the home care provider will not be restricted to offering a particular service. Instead, they will be able to deliver all the solutions that could be necessary or important.
In this case, a carer should also be ready to address and listen to the concerns of the individual. Care can even be adapted and evolve as the needs of the individual continue to change.
Respite Care
Many individuals do entrust family members or loved ones to provide their care. For instance, it’s common for grown children to take the responsibility of caring for their elderly parents. If this is the case, then it’s possible that the parent will have moved into their home. While this is admirable, it will always put a lot of pressure on the person taking on the role of the carer. It can also put a strain on their family, professional and personal life.
That’s why respite care can be a vitally important service. With respite care, it’s possible for a personal carer to get the relief they need. In this case, for a temporary time, the role of the carer is taken on by a professional provider. This can allow the child of the elderly parent to spend more time with their family or perhaps go on holiday. It can also ensure that they get a break from all the responsibilities that come with being a full-time carer.
The duration of respite care will depend on the needs of the individual who is currently taking on the role of the carer.
Nursing And Palliative Care
It’s possible that an elderly individual will require palliative or nursing assistance for medical issues. Many people often assume that these services can only be provided at a hospital or a health clinic. This is not the case and there are a variety of medical services that can be provided in the comfort of an individual’s home.
For instance, it’s possible that an elderly individual requires end of life care. If that’s the case, then steps will be taken to ensure that the individual is kept as comfortable as possible. This could include regularly providing them with the necessary medication.
In other cases, an individual may have received an operation. Nursing and palliative care will ensure that they receive the post-operative treatment that they require. This can also guarantee that individuals are treated for specific illnesses and injuries.
In a scenario like this, care will typically be provided by a medical professional. They will visit the home of the individual on a regular basis and ensure that they get the right level of support they need for their specific condition. Be aware that this type of care will often be limited and based on your financial situation.
Dementia is becoming more prevalent in society and particularly in the elderly population. The chances of developing dementia increases by roughly 10% every five years after you pass 60. There are various stages of dementia. At stage 1, the effects are fleeting and people can still live independently without support or assistance. However, by stage three, many of the symptoms are more apparent. For instance, individuals will have lapses in focus where they may not know who they are or where they are.
Individuals suffering from dementia require special care because they could be a danger to themselves and to others. However, they can still receive the support they need in the comfort of their own home. Dementia support will ensure that individuals are able to gain the right level of assistance and maintain as much independence as possible.
Services from patients with dementia are often more far-reaching. They could include providing medication, completing household tasks and delivering the right level of holistic care. It’s important to note that there are hundreds of different variations of dementia. As such, no two patients are the same.
Carers know this and will strive to ensure that they are offering the right level of individual support. At the same time, they will strive to provide an elderly individual with as much independence as possible without leaving them in a vulnerable or unsafe situation.
Finding The Right Support Package
Once you understand the different types of home care packages, you should make sure that you know the available packages and support programs. There are a few different possibilities to choose from here.
Home Care Package Program
With this care package, the individual will be able to select the right option for them. This is a fantastic possibility because it provides such an extensive level of flexibility. You can choose a care plan that specifically matches individual needs and your lifestyle.
For instance, while some people will require support for dementia, others will just need help with their weekly shop. Many more will want to ensure that they can access nursing support in their homes. The Home Care Package Program provides all these options and much more.
To gain access to this particular option, you will need to converse with a member of the Aged Care Assessment Team. The aim here will be to ascertain whether you are suitable for this particular program. They will also explore your needs and match them to a specific level including:
- Level 1: basic care
- Level 2: low-level care
- Level 3: intermediate care
- Level 4: high care
The amount you pay for this particular program will differ based on your care provider as well as your individual situation. For instance, you may be required to pay an income-test care fee in certain situations. If you are on a full pension, then this may not be applicable to you.
Commonwealth Home Support Program
This is a popular choice with more than 700,000 receiving home care through this program in 2017 alone. It provides entry-level support for patients who need care. This could include personal assistance and support as well as assistance looking after the house and respite periods.
You will still need to complete an assessment. In this case, it will be controlled by the Regional Assessment Service. Again, this is used to determine whether you are eligible for this particular care program.
A number of different variables are considered here. This includes whether assistance is required for typical daily tasks. They will also explore whether you have been diagnosed with an illness or potentially dementia. Finally, they will explore whether you need short term assistance and if this level of support will be enough to help you restore your health.
This program is provided by the government and subsidized for anyone over the age of 65. In some cases, it can be provided for people who are 50 years and over. This will be an option in particular circumstances. For instance, it may be available for those who are 45 years old if they are at risk of losing their home and have a low level of income.
Why Choose Our Service
At Home Caring, we provide home care to older Australians who need support through the two programs mentioned above. Our aim will be to make sure that you are able to improve your quality of life and get the best service possible from our team members. We never shy from going the extra mile for our clients.
We are also delighted to say that we deliver a service you can trust that caters to the individual needs and requirements. We can deliver every type of home care and ensure that you are able to access the right level of support. This includes providing support to those with dementia or those in need of nursing and palliative care. If you have any special requirements, we will happily discuss these with you and ensure that we can deliver the right plan for you.
We are also able to work with carers to provide respite support. When offering this service, we are able to work around your schedule and ensure that you gain the right support exactly when you need it. We will work to provide the right support for both the carer and the individual.
We hope this helps you understand the different levels of assistance available to older Australians looking for support at home. With in-home care, it is possible to continue to live in an environment where you feel comfortable and that we are sure you love. Instead, of disrupting your home, the right support here will strive to ensure that your quality of life is improved or preserved. You can guarantee that you don’t have to worry about issues with safety and gain the full level of support that you would receive at any live-in care facility.
