If you’re over the age of 65, or an Indigenous Australian over the age of 50, and you’re not managing things as well as you used to, aged care support services may help you in and out of the home.
How do I access support?
One support option is Support at Home.
Support at Home is an Australian Government program designed for older Australians who need support to live independently at home.
To access Support at Home, the first step is to undergo an aged care assessment using the Single Assessment System. If the assessment finds that your support needs meet the eligibility for the program you are approved and allocated funding.
While waiting for your funding to be allocated, you can start searching for an aged care provider and decide how you want to manage your funding. There is the option to self-manage or fully-manage funding.
Self-managed is a good fit for those who are after a little more control and are comfortable with the extra admin. Fully-managed is for those who are after more hands-on support. HomeMade is an aged care provider that offers both a self-managed and fully-managed option.
If you are not eligible for Support at Home funding but have the means to pay for support, there are other options like Mable which connects people to support workers.
How else can I support myself?
There are other ways you can support yourself.
Stay active
The benefits of exercise can include gaining greater flexibility, preventing falls, improving bone density, building a stronger immunity and reducing the risk of dementia. Focusing on a goal can help, like getting outside to walk around the block or stretching in between other tasks.
Stay social
For many Mable clients, engaging the support of an independent support worker is about helping them to remain connected to their community. Having a regular get-to-together with friends, hobby or something to drive you can go a long way to maintaining personal identity and mental health.
Stay connected
Staying connected is not only about remaining part of a community. It can also be about learning new skills in technology to help exercise your brain and provide you with tools to manage your admin.
Stay diligent
If something doesn’t quite feel right, taking early action can help. Regular health screenings can help too. While we can’t always control the health or other challenges we might face, we do have the right of choice and control over the services and supports we receive to meet our needs.
Stay informed
Ignoring the need for a little bit of assistance can lead to needing a lot more assistance. There is support available to help us age well. Explore what you feel would work best for your lifestyle and other needs and wants. Checking out this guide is a great next step.