Alex Dalland
Nursing homes can be an important part of maintaining good health and getting the assistance your loved ones need in old age. But recent developments in home care mean that help can be provided without the need to move out. In-home care can provide for varying degrees of independence, and at a reasonable cost.
General Support Services Care
For those who like to live independently with some minor help around the house, general support services provide a great alternative to moving into an aged care home. Carers can assist with household duties such as shopping, cleaning and doing the laundry as well as helping out in the garden or making changes in the home to provide easier use. And with many being on call services – available 24 hours a day – there is no need to have a live-in carer!
Health Care at home
Staying healthy later in life can be difficult, but even specialised health care services can be provided in the home. Nurse visits can be arranged as part of in-home care, and so can ‘allied health’ professionals – those that deal with general well-being. Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists and dietitians, among other specialists, can all provide home consultations and can be arranged through an in-home care service provider.
Personal Assistance Care
Personal assistance care is the highest level of in-home care and can delay the need to enter a nursing home. Carers can help with dressing, showering and using the toilet – they can also help prepare meals and with eating.
How much?
For the range of services provided, in-home care might seem like an expensive option but government subsidies make it affordable for most seniors. MyAgedCare.gov.au, the government website for senior care options, describes the basic daily rate for in-home care as up to 17.5 per cent of the single basic Age Pension. However, if your income is over a certain amount you may be charged an adjusted rate.
For further details on in-home aged care services, the government-run MyAgedCare website can help determine a provider that is right for those who require in-home care.
myagedcare.gov.au
