An essential checklist for caring for your ageing parents

The aged care system

The Australian Government provides subsidies to support older people and to enable them to stay in their own home.
My Aged Care is a free service established by the Australian Government that can help you navigate the aged care system. There are four steps to accessing government funded services:

1. Find out what kinds of services are available. You can view some of the services offered by Rise here.  
2. Get an assessment via My Aged Care to confirm what services you are eligible for
3. Choose a provider
4. Manage your services

 
We’ve provided some points to consider in our aged care services guide below:

Legal considerations

It’s wise to plan ahead and be able to support your parents to deal with legal matters and financial affairs, such as paying bills if they are unable to do so. Further information on an Enduring Power of Attorney is available from the WA Government here.
 
It is also important to get all documentation in order. This includes:

• Centrelink applications
• birth certificates
• death certificates of a partner
• citizenship records
• property contracts

Health and medical needs

If your parent’s health is deteriorating it is useful to attend medical appointments together so that you can connect with their doctor and discuss medical records.  This will help you plan for their needs.
 
You should also ensure you are taking measures to look after your own health. Rise offers a cottage respite service to give carers a chance to recharge. Further information on Milperra Cottage Respite is available here.

Finance and tax help

It’s important to explore government subsides including eligibility for Homecare Packages and a Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP). You can read more about these options here.  You can also examine senior and pensioner tax offset options (SAPTO). The SAPTO can reduce the amount of income tax you are liable to pay.

Living situation

To support your parents to remain in their home it is important to ensure their house remains safe and comfortable as they get older. For example, you may install guard rails and ramps or redesign the bathroom to make it more accessible.
 
Options for home support services are outlined below. Click here for more detailed information about some of these services.

Cleaning

• House cleaning
• Washing clothes

Personal care

• Bathing, showering, and grooming
• Maintaining personal hygiene (including skin care and hair care)
• Mobility such as getting in and out of bed

Meals

• Planning and preparing healthy meals

Medical assistance

• Taking medication
• Transport to medical appointments

  Garden and Home maintenance

• Mowing lawns
• Edging and pruning
• Weeding
• Repotting and replanting
• Changing light globes
• Fitting battery-operated smoke alarms
• Cleaning cobwebs
• Window cleaning
• Garden clean ups

Assistance with pets

• grooming
• exercising

Assistive equipment and technology

• Umps Health Smart Home devices to measure when everyday home appliances are used.
• Robotic vacuum cleaners

 
Your parents may also require support outside of the home. This can include:
 
Transport

• shopping
• visiting health practitioners
• attending community activities 

 
Social Support

• attending social centres
• having regular visitors to the home

 
Further information
Here at Rise we take great pride in offering aged care services to the community.  If you’d like to find out more about any of the information in this aged care guide, you can get in contact with the team at Rise here or call  6274 3770. You can also follow the steps for obtaining funding and accessing aged care services here.