At MePACS, we are advocates of keeping people in their own homes, living as independently as they can for as long as they can.
However, in some cases a transition to Residential Aged Care is the best choice for the long-term health and safety of yourself or your loved one.
But how do you know when the time is right? This can be a hard question as every family and every situation is different. In most cases, there are some changes and behaviours to keep watch for if you are uncertain about whether or not to start the transition to residential aged care.
An increase in falls
The most common reason for admission to aged care is due to fall risk.
Thankfully, a MePACS alarm can be a first step for safety where falls are concerned. However, if there have been a number of small falls or a slow recovery after a larger fall, then it could be a good time to start looking for aged care options.
Social Isolation
As some people age, the everyday demands of caring for themselves that were once simple become more and more difficult. Additionally, declining mobility and increased effort to simply move about can lead to an elderly person deciding to stay home and limit their activities outside the home.
This may be a perfectly adequate coping mechanism for some, but for others it can lead to loneliness and depression. A transition to aged care can be an alternative where community, family or home care support is not available to assist with socialisation.
Home Care is no longer enough care
A common reason for looking into aged care options is when care needs to change and an individual’s home care package cannot be increased to meet their needs. In situations like this, it can be important for the ongoing health of the older person to consider residential aged care options.
After the decision is made to start the move to residential aged care, it can be overwhelming to know where to start.
One good resource available is Australia’s largest aged care feedback and review platform, aptly name, Aged Care Reviews. The reviews on Aged Care Reviews are submitted by members of the community who have a personal experience with a particular aged care facility.
Many of the reviews provide a unique insight into an aged care facility and can be a good place to start for families exploring the idea of residential aged care.