Everything You Need to Know About Aged Care Homes Throughout Australia

Looking for a nursing home that not only meets all the physical needs of you or your family member, but also provides a safe space to feel comfortable and at home in can be daunting and stressful.

Australia is faced with a rapidly ageing population where there is a growing demand for a decent level of aged care facilities and services. When loved ones ask for information they are often given a piece of paper with a ‘shortlist’ of around 5 facilities to look at. Typically, there is no measure or testimony to help them choose the best one.

Nina*, a daughter whose mother had early onset dementia, found it very stressful when the hospital handed her a list of facilities to look over. The social workers in the hospital were not allowed to recommend one facility over another, which made the process even more difficult. She was feeling very overwhelmed and not overly supported.

Whilst this is common scenario, and hospitals are not obliged to provide any recommendations, it means there are a number of families in a similar position to Nina that are looking for insider information of peer recommendations to help a difficult decision a little easier.

Every aged care facility is different and booking a tour will allow you to see what type of care and assistance you can expect. Knowing the kind of accommodation, medical and frail care services and social activities they provide will go a long way to ensuring a quality lifestyle.

Everything you need to know about aged care homes throughout Australia – Aged Care Homes Australia.

When the time comes to consider aged care, these are the first 3 steps to consider…

• 1. Arrange an Aged Care Assessment: If you’ve had an aged care assessment done, now is the time to find the right aged care home.
• 2. Create a Shortlist of Aged Care Accommodation: When the time comes for you to look at aged care nursing, it may help if you make a list of what you will need in terms of care and creature comforts, ie. nice gardens, natural lighting, close to home, food quality. If you’re uncertain of where to start, have a look at our database of assessed and reviewed nursing homes, each of which accommodates a wide variety of care requirements. From there you can contact them to arrange a viewing.
• 3. Book a facility Tour: ensure you take along any medical records and assessments so that the staff at the care facilities will know your requirements and how best to accommodate you.

For more detailed information check out ACRC’s Aged Care Information Guide which answers many frequently asked questions, such as:

• How much does Aged Care Cost, What questions to ask when completing a facility tour
• What is respite care?
• What is Home Care and when is it an option? What are Home Care Packages?
• What is Consumer Directed Care?
• Hospital Care – What are you covered for post discharge?
• Retirement Villages – What are the costs?
• Dementia Care – What is dementia exactly? What are the warning signs?

Download your Free Aged Care Information Guide