4. Respite and Residential Aged Care
Topic 4 of 4
Finalising your plan
Now that you’ve had a chance to consider respite and permanent Residential Aged Care, we have a little more information that may help you to take the first step.
Select the headings to find out more.
Residential Respite Care is available to all over 65 and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 50 with an approval code from an aged care assessment agency.
To book respite in Tasmania or ask any questions regarding respite contact Care2Serve. They will support you to navigate residential respite, the conversations you need to have and the where, when and how to put it in place. Including how much it costs. To speak to a coach, carer counsellor or to talk through next steps call 1800 422 737 (press 1 at the menu).
Select this link to look at the Quality Standards for Aged Care.
Select this link to find out more about Star Ratings
For information about fees and costs of permanent Residential Aged Care, book an appointment with a Centrelink Aged Care Specialist Officer (ACSO) or a Financial Information Services Officer (FISO). Call 1800 227 475 Mon-Fri 8am to 5pm.
Visit as often as you can. Homes provide physical and clinical care but don’t have the resources to meet your elder’s emotional and psychological needs. Real emotional care and connection will still come from family.
Learn the routines of the home and work out best times to visit. Make a roster for family. Think about taking a friend with you who will make you feel good so that you can share that with your loved one. Call anytime – day or night. Take your elder for outings.
Talk to staff about difficulties they may have with communication like sight and hearing loss. Talk about likes and dislikes.
Sometimes, despite all our research and homework, it just doesn’t work out. You as their advocate, must be able to see if your elder is suffering.
They may not wish to say anything because they might not like to complain. Sometimes it’s the services, sometimes the staff, sometimes it’s just that the match isn’t right.
You can advocate for them and follow the complaints process. Or look at another option.
Moving is not the end of the world. It is much better to try another place than constantly try to find excuses to stay.
For more guidance on how to make a complaint see Module 3 ‘Making a Complaint‘ – or go through the brief below.
If you would like to make a complaint the first step is to let the Nurse on duty know that there is an issue. Follow this up in writing. If the problem is not resolved ask for a meeting with the Director of Clinical Care (or equivalent) or a manager such as the CEO.
Not resolved? There are organisations that can help with your elder’s rights and options.
OPAN (Older Persons Advocacy Network) helps people to advocate and ‘solve aged care problems’. Call 1800 700 600 or go to their website here.
If your concerns are not resolved contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission on 1800 951 822 or visit their website here.
The best-case scenario is that your elder will go to a compassionate and comfortable home with all the care and companionship they need to have the highest possible quality of life.
To find the best possible place, go through the steps of this module with your notebook. In fact, you may have to get a second notebook just for your research.
You will need to:
- Record your conservations with your elders, family, and other interested parties.
- List things that are important to your elder.
- Have your list of questions to ask the aged care home.
- List the homes in the location you prefer, make appointments to see them, and then have your pros and cons columns. These will include the star ratings from My Aged Care.
Taking the time to research thoroughly will lead to better decisions and outcomes for your elder. It will all take time, but it will also save you so much grief and angst later on, knowing that you checked as many things as possible.
Wrap up
We have come to the end of ‘Respite and Residential Aged Care’. Let’s listen to Jean one more time.
Select ‘Play’ to view the final message.
After the move to permanent care, the good news is that your elder may settle really quickly. They may enjoy the company and the environment because they’ve been lonely even with all your attention. They also might find routines and regulations and the inevitable loss of independence difficult at first, and adjusting will take time. But there should be a sense of security in being with people whose job it is to look after you.
Hopefully, they will also start to feel better physically because their health is constantly monitored. They will receive treatment when they need it. They receive their meds on time. They have regular meals and are given glasses of water to stay hydrated.
Their routine should become reassuring and stabilising.
The home you and your elder choose should work with you both to develop a care plan to meet your elder’s physical, social and emotional needs.
If your elder has moved into a home in their own area, they can keep the allied health professionals they already have and their own GP. But if not, new people might have to be arranged.
If they do move, let all the people in their lives know where they are and how to contact them: the GP, the home care provider, the retirement village, the neighbours, nurses, cleaners and carers. You have to inform government entities, utilities and other organisations such as banks, insurance, superannuation and their local clubs. And don’t forget the electoral office.
Most importantly, tell their friends and family where they are.
Remember, before you make a final decision about residential aged care, you can always have a trial run by using respite visits, a sort of try-before-you-buy sleepover.
MODULE 4
