- Are you – or someone for whom you care – needing aged care services? Your one-stop-shop should be the Federal Government’s MyAgedCare website, which has information about aged care options, eligibility for service assistance, assessments to match up with appropriate services as well as setting up and managing those services.
- 10 Questions to Ask is a website offering series of a dozen downloadable leaflets written by nurses, doctors and experts with experience in residential aged care. Designed to help care recipients and their loved ones navigate a range of residential aged care challenges, the series includes leaflets on: staffing, GP services, cultural needs, palliative care, contracts and fees, facilities and lifestyle, LGBTI needs, Indigenous needs, dental and oral health, mental health, rural and remote care, and dementia care.
- Whether you are an older or infirm Australian still living at home or in residential care – or you care for someone in that position – you can get help with managing medicines via the MyAgedCare website. If you use a smartphone, you can also download and use the MedicineWise app from the National Prescribing Service via the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android).
- The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) is a national network comprising nine state and territory organisations that deliver advocacy, information and education services to older and infirm people across Australia. These organisations include Advocare (WA), Seniors and Disability Rights Service (NT), Catholic Care (NT), Aged Rights Advocacy Service (SA), ADA Australia (Qld), Advocacy Tasmania (Tas), Elder Rights Advocacy (Vic), Adacas Advocacy (ACT) and Seniors Rights Service (NSW). OPAN members’ free services support older and infirm people, and their representatives, to address issues related to Commonwealth-funded aged care services.
- Finding the right aged care for your parents can be something you are confronted with suddenly. This ABC Radio Life Matters article steps you through the process, from aged care assessment to care in the home and residential care options to understanding the basic costs involved.
- Having chosen – or been offered – a bed in an aged care facility that appears suitable, the next step is to work out what will need to be paid. This guide to nursing home costs steps through the basic daily fee, the accommodation payment options, any means-tested and extra services fees. It also addresses what to do if there are potential difficulties in paying accommodation fees.
- Choosing to live independently in your own home can be possible for older and infirm Australians if they can get assistance with simple tasks such as taking a shower, dressing and getting to appointments. This home care introduction web page outlines the types of home care available, how to access Federal Government-funded home care services and the types of assessment available for eligible recipients. It also steps you through choosing a home care provider, your financial contribution and lists how to identify other home care services.
- After registering your name, email and phone number, you can download a free, independent guide from Connect Hearing to help you compare the different types of hearing aids available. The guide explains what to expect from hearing aids, the types of hearing aid styles, advances in hearing aid technology and compares hearing aids available on the market. Alternatively, you can call 1300 186 536 to request a copy be mailed out to you or someone for whom you care.
- If you or someone for whom you care needs to learn more about palliative care, The Conversation website has a special section with five valuable articles. And the Federal Government’s Human Services Inquiry has an informative chapter on end-of-life care in Australia. Meanwhile, also on The Conversation website, Brisbane-based healthcare ethicist Dr Sarah Winch explores three common myths about dying. The site also has advice from Palliative Care Professor Liz Forbat on looking after a dying loved one at home. And the ABC Online explains what palliative care can and can’t do.
Aged Care: Are we getting it right? 