Questions around finding the right aged care facility are pretty common.\u00a0 Chances are, you’ve caught up with the folks over the holidays and maybe realised that mum and dad were a little more frail than you last remembered, they weren’t coping as well around the house and keeping up with the maintenance, or one of them was becoming noticably forgetful.\u00a0 A New Year can often kick off with questions about ‘where to from here?’ and ‘how can we handle this the best way?’<\/p>\n
Whether you are simply planning ahead for down the track, or are worried that a serious fall or hospital stay is on the cards, it\u2019s definitely worth being prepared and knowing what to ask when you visit with an Aged Care Specialist Adviser or even an aged care facility.<\/p>\n
If going straight to the home, ask for a tour of the facility and take note of the residents and staff.\u00a0 Are they happy and friendy?\u00a0 Is the place clean and tidy?\u00a0 Sometimes it’s worth popping by at meal time to have an idea of what is served.\u00a0 Does the place smell musty or like a hospital ward or is it pleasant?\u00a0\u00a0Are activities organised at the centre and is it an inclusive place to be?\u00a0 Is this what your parents would like?\u00a0 Do they have access to outdoor areas, gardens and courtyards or just the four walls of the home?<\/p>\n
It’s pretty vital that the family is all on the same page and where possible, all children \/ siblings are included.\u00a0 Ask your family member directly about the type of support and services they would like to receive.\u00a0 Chances are, you’ll find their ideas may be quite different to yours.\u00a0 They might consider their social lives, being close to a local shopping centre or club is important, whilst you’re focusing on the nursing staff’s capabilities and what the cost is likely to be.<\/p>\n
When visitng, have a chat with the carers and nurses \u2013 these are the front line of support so it’s worth gettting to know them.\u00a0 Visit a few facilities that tick your boxes until you narrow the list down.\u00a0 If you’re short on time, placement agencies or advisers can also help by focusing on what’s important to your loved ones geographically, socially, medically and financially.<\/p>\n
When visiting with an Adviser, it’s good to have a list of the quesitons you’d like answered written down or it’s easy to forget something.\u00a0 If they’re mostly financial questions, ensure you have their assets and liabilities avaialble, and where possible, their ACAT Assessment results.\u00a0 It’s also vital to ensure that your loved one’s Powers of Attorney are in place before they lose capacity.<\/p>\n