Aged care personal advice for Christmas
As we approach the end of another year, many people will be looking forward to the festive season and the chance to slow down and catch up with family, particularly older parents. Busy lives and distant homes can make it easy to feel out of touch. But this may be a time when adult children notice changes in their ageing parents, and may also offer parents a chance to take control over their future with aged care personal advice and family discussions.
The signs of ageing may be distressing and worrying for many people, but they are a natural part of life, especially with our increasing longevity. The problem is not getting old. The problem is not having an effective plan for how to grow old.
We want to live long lives, but we also want to live quality lives, even if we face challenges along the way. A plan for where and how we want to live as we age, needs to consider what is important to us as a person and what are our key life values. Developing this plan in conjunction with aged care person advice can ensure that home environment and care supports are appropriate, as well as understand how to fund quality care.
Don’t wait until a crisis has occurred to take action. Planning ahead and professional advice are the keys to quality care and effective decision-making.
The journey may not be easy, and hard decisions may need to be made. Seeking objective advice from an Accredited Aged Care Professional can help to convert the mountain of data on aged care into meaningful and relevant information and ultimately into appropriate decisions.
It might be time for a family meeting
End of year is traditionally a time to take stock and plan ahead. And the festive season might be one of the few opportunities during a busy year to have discussions with all those people who are important to you.
If you have older parents, take the time this Christmas to raise the issue with your parents and your siblings or other family members and seek advice to start building a family action plan.
If you are that older person, use the opportunity to bring your adult children together to discuss your care needs. Make yourself heard whilst you are still able to maintain your control and independence and put strategies into place.
The value of a family meeting
A family meeting is an essential step in planning for aged care and may help to minimise conflicts within your family. Emotional conflicts between family members can make the transition to care more distressing for an older parent and have the potential to rip families apart.
A well-run family meeting can allow parents, children and other family members to discuss issues and preferences, express concerns and make decisions that work for your family as a whole. It is important that everyone is heard and has an opportunity to express opinions.
With a well organised plan in place, your family can respond more quickly and effectively when an event requiring a move to aged care occurs. And seeking aged care personal advice can help to guide and navigate you through creating an effective solution.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is general and does not take into account your particular circumstances. We recommend specific financial, tax and/or legal advice be sought before any action is taken. Aged Care Personal Advice is a registered business name of Aged Care Steps Pty Limited ABN 42 156 656 843, AFSL 486723.