Aged care and what to prepare: embracing and adapting to getting older
Written by Glen James
Host of the Retire Right & money money money (formerly my millennial money) podcasts & author of The Quick-Start Guide to Investing.
When we hear the words ‘aged care’ most people jump straight to the idea of that final bed. Whether you are the one nearing older age, or you’re a family member supporting someone who is, it can be such a challenge to even accept that as we get older, we will age, and usually that involves seeking out various forms of aged care assistance.
After living a long life where you’ve managed a job, family needs, a household, maybe a business, it can be difficult to come to terms with the idea that one day you might need help. Yes, help. I get it – it feels…like a weakness. It is anything but that and you are anything but weak. Getting help is equipping you to live fully and freely for as long as possible. This is an empowering step to know that you will use your fullest capacity for as long as you can. Aged care isn’t just that final nursing home, it’s a spectrum of support options that you can have a plan for, so that if or when circumstances change you’re in as much control as you can be about how your life unfolds in your later years.
Two areas come into focus:
Where are you living?
Broadly speaking there are 3 main categories of housing to consider:
retirement villages (community living)
in-home care with support services provided in your home
residential care where support services are provided.
How are you living?
This covers how you get around, your mobility, your cognitive abilities, your hobbies and social life, how you cook and eat, and activities like cleaning. As you age you may require more support in how these tasks are achieved, and although this can be challenging to accept, it’s smart to be prepared for the help you’re likely to need.
Here is a list of activities to think through and prepare for:
Personal Care: Assistance with bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting.
Mobility Support: Help with walking, transferring (e.g., from bed to chair), and using mobility aids.
Medication Management: Organising, reminding, and assisting with taking prescribed medications.
Meal Preparation: Planning, cooking, and serving nutritious meals, as well as assistance with eating if necessary.
Housekeeping: Cleaning, laundry, and other household chores to maintain a safe and comfortable living environment.
Shopping: Grocery shopping and running errands.
Financial Management: Assistance with paying bills, managing finances, and handling legal matters.
Transportation: Providing rides to medical appointments, social activities, and other destinations.
Healthcare Coordination: Scheduling and coordinating medical appointments, managing health records, and communicating with healthcare providers.
Social Engagement: Companionship and facilitating social interactions to prevent isolation and loneliness.
Exercise and Physical Therapy: Helping with exercise routines and physical therapy to maintain or improve physical health.
Home Safety Modifications: Installing grab bars, ramps, and other modifications to ensure a safe living environment.
Emergency Preparedness: Planning for emergencies and ensuring quick access to emergency services if needed.
Cognitive Support: Activities and therapies to support mental health and cognitive function.
End-of-Life Planning: Discussing and documenting wishes for end-of-life care, including advance directives and living wills.
Commonly the decisions around these areas involve yourself and a partner, family member or children, and that is where proper legal documentation is key. The key documents I’d encourage you to organise are:
Will: ensure your will is up-to-date and reflects your current wishes.
Enduring Power of Attorney: appoint a person/s to make financial and personal decisions if you're unable to do so.
Enduring Power of Guardianship: appoint someone to make personal, lifestyle, and medical decisions on your behalf if you lose the capacity to make those decisions yourself. (in some states this is combined with Enduring Power of Attorney).
Advanced Care Directive: outline your preferences for medical treatment and care. This document can vary from state to state.
Please get these documents sorted! If this is the nudge you needed, it’s time to get these documents underway or updated. Please seek legal guidance to get these sorted correctly. It’s worth noting that the way these documents work vary from state to state, so a legal professional is key in getting these right.
Whatever decisions you have made around these documents I’d also encourage you to discuss these plans with whoever will be taking care of you – your spouse, children, family or friends, so there’s no surprises and that additional emotional toil isn’t added to a potentially difficult situation.
All of this is discussed in a fantastic episode on the podcast, 208 aged care, with Louise Biti from Aged Care Steps. Have a listen to the episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Listen below:
