How do you live in your home longer … as you age?

Our homes are our castles … so the saying goes. 

How do we keep living in our castles longer as we grow older?

There are many things you need to do to be able to keep living and functioning in your home. Of the many things to do – there are some activities you can do and like to do … there are some activities you don’t like to do or don’t want to do any more … and there are some activities that you can’t do or struggle with and need some help.

This is an appropriate starting point for many people … to sit down with a piece of paper and draw three columns on the page with the headings above and put all those activities that are required to live in your castle longer into one of those three columns. (TIP: Family Aged Care Advocates is happy to help you with this important exercise if you need a hand.)

Who helps us if we don’t, won’t or can’t do certain activities any more? 

Some of us simply don’t have families or people around us who can help out. Others may have families who live a long way away so can’t help even if they want to. Some have families or people nearby but don’t want to bother them because they’re busy with their own lives. And then there are those who simply don’t want their families or neighbours to be to actively involved in what we do or need … and there are typically good reasons for that.

The Government through their home care support programmes have been relied upon to effectively “fill the home activities gap” for a lot of people.

But as we now all well know by now, these home care programmes have changed as from 1 November. And let me tell you, the effectiveness of these changes are already being questioned (loudly) by many. This article will not analyse these issues, but let me highlight a couple of things you should know about these changes and how they will affect you:

• Home care is now focussed on “user pays” and the Government have introduced a co-contribution payment arrangement for home care services that particularly impacts part-pensioners and self-funded retirees – the more you have … the more you will pay

• Hourly rates for home care services and activities have increased

• The Government are still not meeting the demand for home care packages and aged care facility rooms … and don’t seem to have an immediate interest or focus on that.

Exactly what does that means for you?

As an example, home cleaning and lawn maintenance activities have increased in hourly rates from around $60 per hour to $100 per hour. A self-funded retiree will be asked to make a financial contribution to these services that could be as high as $80 per hour. Therefore, it may well be worth considering opting for private services in these areas if possible rather than through a Government home care package. Family Aged Care Advocates can help you with that.

There are also many activities that aren’t offered in your typical home care packages.  Things such as organising important documents, doing your banking, checking your financial statements for scams or fraud, paying bills, talking to financial, business and Government organisations, organising appointments and activities outside the home … and the list goes on.

How can Family Aged Care Advocates help you?

Family Aged Care Advocates can help you with all of this. We sit with you and put together an agreed programme, then visit you regularly to help you get the things you need to live in your castle for longer done.

Give us a call on 0411 264 002 or email shane@faca.com.au to organise a day and time for a discussion … at your home.

Shane Hayes Family Aged Care Advocates