Aged Care

Ageing & frailty doesn’t mean the end of life as we know it!

Did you visit an elderly loved one at home this festive season? You might have noticed a change in their physical or mental well being. This time of year can be a confronting time for people with aging relatives they don’t see regularly. If you discover your elderly loved one has become frail, either physically or mentally, don’t despair.Frailty isn’t the end of the line. But it might signal the start of a new phase of life, when a little more support is required.  So what should you do? Firstly, don’t make any decisions about your elderly loved one’s future without…

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Questions to Ask Prospective Home Care Providers

Finding your way around the Aged Care system to organise a Home Care Package can be daunting. It will save time if you have a general understanding of the steps involved. Here’s a few hints and tips, set out in steps as how to’s and explanations of common terms that might help! Step 1 – The ACAT assessment If you are over 65 and wanting to access government subsidised services, you will need to be assessed and approved for the type of services you need. The ACAT team will do an in-home assessment and ‘approve’ you for various support services. To…

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Origins of Remembrance Day Why is this day special to Australians? & To us the daughters of a WW2 Veteran

At 11 am on 11 November 1918 the guns on the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. The allied armies had driven the German invaders back, having inflicted heavy defeats upon them over the preceding four months. In November the Germans called for an armistice (suspension of fighting) in order to secure a peace settlement. They accepted allied terms that amounted to an unconditional surrender. The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month attained a special significance in the post-war years. The moment when hostilities ceased on the Western Front became…

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Enduring Power of Attorney – Who Needs One ?

Simple – EVERYONE needs a Power of Attorney It’s one of those things no one wants to think about – but ask yourself: what if you suffered an injury or illness that prevented you from being able to make your choices known … Who would manage your finances, who would make decisions about your medical treatment? What is it ? An Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) is an important legal document that you prepare, to enable someone else to make decisions about your finances, healthcare and other matters – if you are unable to. How to Prepare a Power of…

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Discussing home care options with your ageing parents?

GROWING OLDER DOESN’T HAVE TO BE SCARY But quite frankly it is. Losing the ability to care for oneself can not only be a risk to personal safety, but it is difficult to come to terms with mentally and emotionally. Often its left to the children to broach the subject of Mum and or Dad needing home care, – this can be a daunting prospect but can be made more comfortable and more effective by careful research and planning. While as children we can find it difficult to discuss with our parents – remember that this is a more significant transition…

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6 Ways to get seniors to drink more water!

Dehydration is a common and very serious condition for older adults. It can also cause other major health problems like kidney stones, blood clot complications, passing out, rapid but weak pulse, and lowered blood pressure. Being properly hydrated is also very important for certain medications to work. The best thing to do is try to prevent it from happening, but it’s much easier said than done to increase their fluid intake! To help with this sometimes frustrating mission, we rounded up some creative tips. 6 WAYS TO GET SENIORS TO DRINK MORE WATER 1. Remember there are many sources of…

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Home Care Funding – Will it be enough?

CURRENTLY, THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES TWO TIERS OF SERVICE TO ASSIST PEOPLE IN STAYING IN THEIR OWN HOME 1 – The Community Home Support Program & 2 – The 4 Levels of Home Care Packages The goal is that this support will enable people to remain living in their own home – rather than having to enter an Aged Care Facility / Nursing Home. While this sounds great – the reality is proving to be less than ideal for those with a burning desire to stay in their own home. There are some current issues that can – and do –…

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How to overcome apprehension about having care at home

A lot of people find it very stressful to acknowledge that they need the assistance, and then taking the next step in actually allowing carers through the door can be very daunting. So how can you help your parents / loved ones to come to terms with having in home support? How do you help them adjust? When someone first needs care they are usually dealing with loss; loss of independence to some degree, it could be a physical or mental loss of capacity or they just see needing help as a sign of weakness. Accepting support from a ‘stranger’…

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Elderly mum or dad ok? In Home Care may be the answer

Leslie helped her mum and dad downsize to their little cottage. Both 70, at the time, they were fit for their age. But mum wanted less housework and dad a smaller yard. Now, at 75, mum has Parkinson’s disease, and Leslie is over 50 with two kids in college. Leslie is a Purchasing Manager looking forward to travel with her husband Mick at retirement. But, now Leslie worries about mum and dad being home alone without home care services. WHAT SHE SEES Leslie visits mum and dad twice a week. She always finds mum napping and pills by her bedside. Dad…

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Knowing Your Medications

These days there are so many prescription drugs on the market that more and more people can find themselves on a long list of pills and potions!  It can be hard to keep track of what you are taking, which ones you have tried in the past & what has or hasn’t worked for you. It is however very important for your health and safety to be informed about what you are taking. In our day to day management of clients in both aged care / home care situations, we find that many people can’t remember what medications they take,…

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