Moving from your home into an aged care facility can be one of the most emotional life experiences for any seniors. Because of health concerns or a medical crisis, urgent action needs to be done with little time to prepare resulting in an interrupted lifestyle in retirement.
The possibility of moving into aged care should be part of the conversation in retirement planning. As a loved one, there are steps we can take to support our seniors to make their transition as stress-free as possible.
Familiarise with the aged care facility beforehand
Have a family meeting to talk about your loved one’s move to a residential aged care. Conversations with family members will help everyone to be aware of the benefits and potential challenges of the transition. Ask everyone’s opinion, especially your loved one’s, and make sure these are included in decision making.
Put emphasis on the positive aspects that come with moving, such as specialised care, new friends, and recreational activities. You may establish a visiting roster for the family, as well as plan for celebrations such as birthdays and anniversaries.
It’s better to take a visit to the facility on a number of occasions leading up to the move to have a general sense of the place. Ask the staff questions that could help you and your loved one prepare and to address any hesitations or concerns.
Furthermore, you can always look for online assistance. My Aged Care offers comprehensive guidelines on the process of moving into a supported care facility. They also provide information on reporting or managing any complaints or concerns about an aged care facility.
Make it feel like home
Make your loved one’s lifestyle and surroundings as familiar as possible. Find out what possessions are allowed in the facility and make an effort to include their most important belongings such as a favourite chair, photos,trinkets, or music.
It’s not uncommon for seniors living in residential care to feel lonely so try to visit them very soon and regularly after placement.
It’s important to make each visit a rewarding experience every time. Engage in fun activities such as a card game, an outing to the local café, or strolling in the garden.
Understand the costs of aged care
Considering and planning the costs is recommended. Take time to understand what costs will be shouldered by the government and what will need to be met by you and loved ones.
Although the government provides excellent aged care facilities and quality of care, the costs can be expensive. For example, recreational activities can be an additional cost depending on the chosen accommodation and location of the facility. Also, part of planning is if you want to pay through Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) with an upfront lump sum payment, or through Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP).
Using a reverse mortgage to fund aged care
Our team at ASAG has been offering equity release solutions to seniors, one of which proves more popular is our reverse mortgage. Through the ASAG Reverse Mortgage, seniors can unlock the equity in their home to access funds without selling their property.
The funds can be used for any purposes you may see fit in your retirement objectives, including Aged Care. The stress of ongoing repayments is also relieved as the loan is payable at the end of the term when you leave your home.
For further information on our reverse mortgage loan and other equity release products, contact us on 1300 002 724 or email your enquiries at info@asagfirst.com.au. You may also use our free calculator below to learn what your available equity is.