Page 15 - BOL Mar 21 Edition

Maintaining independence

in your own home

The right of all Australians to remain living in their own Recent interim findings from the Royal Commission into Aged
home as they age has become a hot button issue in recent Care Quality and Safety have already led to the Australian
months. Along with the impact of COVID-19 on some aged Government pledging almost $500 million to provide 10,000
care facilities, the topic was regularly raised during the recent more HCPs to those who wish to receive additional assistance
Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. whilst remaining in their own home.
Census data shows that only around 5 per cent of Australian If ageing in your own home is something you’d like to learn more
seniors aged 65 or over live in residential aged care. The vast about, contact me to find out more.
majority choose to remain living in a private home. This is often Submitted by Susanne Jones,
their preference, even when the impacts of old age are felt. Just Better Care Brisbane North and CBD
Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) studies
support these findings, with the institute’s research showing
that 78 to 81 per cent of older Australians aged 55 and over want
to live in their own home as they age.
RMIT University College of Business researcher Juliette Brodsky
says the concept of assisting Australians to age in the comfort Flexible, responsive in-home
of their own surroundings is about maintaining independence
and keeping older people connected to the neighbourhood and aged care & disability support
community. It’s all part of a framework of “active ageing”.
“[This is done with the aim of] improving their quality of life and
giving them more control over their circumstances.”
AHURI agrees there are a number of reasons why older
Australians prefer to age at home, however the institute also says
that ageing at home requires a degree of independent living Just Better Care Brisbane North has all of
ability for the older person. your support requirements covered so you
Installing nonslip flooring, grab rails and retrofitting rooms to can work with one provider for all of your
help maintain a steady temperature are just some of the ways needs.
homes need to be altered as their occupants age. Yet it is clear
that many Australians lack the financial means to customise their Approved Home Care Package
homes. Provider for people over 65.
To help ease this burden on older Australians, the federal
government provides funding for Home Care Packages (HCP) Registered NDIS Provider.
to enable those who remain living independently access to NDIS Plan Management & Support
affordable support. Once approved, you can get subsidised Coordination services.
assistance with services such as personal care, nursing, transport
or social support.
Approved
In 2019, the Commonwealth Department of Health funded Speak to our friendly, Home Care
a report that investigates HCP participants’ experiences of local team today. Package
Provider
receiving in-home care. The feedback was overwhelmingly
positive, with responses ranging from “a godsend” to “life-saving”. Call (07) 3056 0777
AHURI says it’s in the government’s interest to fund such justbettercare.com/Brisbane-North-CBD
programs, because HCPs help prevent governments having to justbettercare.com/Brisbane-North-Outer
spend money in providing residential aged care facilities.
March 2021 www.bestoflocal.com.au 15