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Family Aged Care Advocates

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25.01.2022 Feros Care wrote a fantastic article on physical activity for seniors and how dancing for better health later in life can help prevent the development of alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, improve balance and flexibility and as a result reduce the chance of falls or injury, and positively impact mental health. It's a wonderful article, more relevant than ever and very insightful on the benefits of physical activity for the ageing. Feros Care You can read the article here https://www.feroscare.com.au//dancing-for-better-health---

25.01.2022 Father’s Day is the 6th of September, a time of celebrating our Dads and Father figures. For many this year might be a little bit more challenging in how you can gather as a family and enjoy time with Dad or Grand Dad, particularly if he resides in a residential aged care facility. Current recommendations from government are that we limit as much as possible access to residential facilities, especially those in hot spots. In the spirit of reducing the overall risk to vulnerab...le elderly this seems like a reasonable request to make. But what can you do to let him know he is The Best, and you are thinking of him if you can’t be there in person. A lot depends on his general state of mind and health. If you want to set up a virtual experience be it a simple zoom meeting with the family or a grand tour of a famous museum, consider how tech savvy he is, if he is not so much skilled in the ways of the internet be sure to arrange with the facility a time for staff to help, often the best people to facilitate this are the activities or lifestyle staff. But because the Day itself can be very busy organising to do your thing in the lead up or after might give more flexibility. Socks are often popular gifts, maybe consider non slip socks. A box of snacks and drinks might go down well, but be aware of portion sizes, often smaller sized portion are better so are more likely to be consumed in one sitting and not left open in the room to go stale. Be mindful of any swallowing difficulties a person may have, if in doubt ask the facility. There is a lot to be said for an old fashioned letter or card. Remembering that this is a generation who are used to this written form of communication. If handwriting remember to try and write slightly bigger if your Dad has a visual impairment, or type it out in a larger font, try 14 or larger, and stick it into a nice card. However your family does Father’s Day this year, we wish you a fabulous day full of beautiful memories appreciating the value of our families and loved ones. Family Aged Care Advocates.

24.01.2022 The arrival of the Covid vaccine in Australia is imminent, and there is still huge mixed opinions surrounding it. Which is curious really, given that generally the use of vaccines against terrible illness has been applauded as a life-saving intervention across the times. Amongst the hype however, it is a decision we all will need to think about soon. It can be a catalyst for discussing with your family or GP about a range of health and ageing considerations that you have. This can be a good time to expand those conversations and book in a Dignity Planning chat. Contact us for more information.

24.01.2022 Aged care is abundant with acronyms. They are everywhere and are peppered throughout the critical process so if you don’t know what they are you can get lost quickly trying to understand what it all means. Today let’s look at a couple of the key ones: - ACAT: Aged Care Assessment Team; these people will come and assess your suitability for federally funded aged care services. - HCP: Home Care Package; these are broken into 4 levels and determine an amount of funding you can... receive to help you stay at home. The ACAT team will assess if you are eligible and what level you are entitled to. - CDC: Consumer Directed Care. This is the model under which your HCP is delivered. The funding allocation from your HCP is yours exclusively and can be spent in a way that you determine meets your needs, within the guidelines ;) - RACF: Residential Aged Care Facility. Previously known as a Nursing Home or Hostel. Otherwise called Permanent Care. See more

22.01.2022 Aged Care loves a good acronym and one you might hear frequently especially in home care is CDC. This is Consumer Directed Care and essentially is the paradigm shift that saw the balance of power being given back to consumers. It gives people who receive home care more control over the care and services package they receive, including how it is delivered and who provides it.

21.01.2022 Disaster has struck, your elderly parent has had a fall, been hospitalised and cannot go back to their previous independent life. You meanwhile are overseas and cannot get home to assist. Who do you call to help? How do you know what is the best plan now; does it have to be residential aged care? Can your parents afford it? How do you know who is the best provider to care for your loved one, so many disconcerting stories about aged care in Australia during COVID. So many ...questions, and so time consuming made worse if there is a significant time difference. Who can help your family now? Family Aged Care Advocates can absolutely help you, we can do as much or as little as you need to get the most dignified outcome for your loved one. Check out our website to see how we can help you, or message us to discuss your situation. See more

21.01.2022 When people and their families undertake the aged care journey many are unsure exactly what questions to ask, who to ask, when to ask and what answers you could / should expect to get back. At Family Aged Care Advocates we know what to do, when and how simply because we do this every single day. Recently we helped a family save $29,500 by asking some specific questions to the right people at the right time. For some, this saving may not seem a lot but for this particul...ar family it meant a great deal. If you’d like to find out how we may be able to help you and your family Let’s chat.

19.01.2022 Retirement community and granny flat financial arrangements vary. One financial arrangement may be better suited to you than another. We can help you understand the costs of your living arrangement by: identifying the fees and charges that will apply to you... helping you identify your care needs and associated care provider costs calculating your age pension entitlement and other benefits providing you with a comprehensive analysis of the options, including moving into permanent care, so that you can make informed choices Read more on our info sheet via our Link in Bio or Website

18.01.2022 We would love to hear your opinion. Anyone out there on their aged care Journey or have parents that are? We want to know what you/they have struggled most within the aged care journey? We have a good understanding of a lot of the common problems faced by people who are trying to navigate aged care choices in Australia, however we would love to hear from you about the what you have found most challenging. ... 2020 was a year that had us all realise that many of the things we take for granted, in fact can be so easily and quickly removed. Without getting deeply philosophical on it, we have certainly seen a shift in many of the drivers of decision making in our clients. As we prepare for 2021, we would love to hear from you about your thoughts and concerns with regards transitions to aged care or ageing generally. Please leave us a comment or send us an email we look forward to hearing from you.

17.01.2022 Here at Family Aged Care Advocates, we are always on the look out for innovative ways to work outside the box and keep people living life on their own terms. Gretel is an organisation committed to using technology to provide ways to keep people safe and keep people connected even if you can’t be there all the time. We know that at this time of year, many of us are thinking about caring for family and loved ones. Gretel have been working on a product for the independent livi...ng market, using technology to log mobility & external care-services provided within the home. They're looking to provide peace of mind for loved ones, and freedom for those requiring care to stay in their own homes longer. You can find out more and register interest here: https://home.gretel.space https://home.gretel.space

16.01.2022 Prime Minister Scott Morrison will reverse the decision to put pensions on hold for the first time in more than two decades. The Department of Social Services has revealed pensioners won’t get the automatic boost they are used to in September, because inflation has gone backwards. Morrison is examining the issue and has indicated he will likely offer pensioners a top-up payment instead.... It was not intended and nor will it be the case that you’ll see those payments reduce, he told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday. We’ll work out the exact response and the circumstances and we’ll announce that when a decision has been made. Great Image and article thanks to @indaily https://indaily.com.au//pm-to-reverse-decision-to-freeze/

15.01.2022 Don’t forget to have fun

15.01.2022 They are often the last thing you really want to spend too much time dwelling over. However, it is not unusual for there to be little errors that can add up over time if you are not aware of them. We regularly find inconsistencies that save our clients money. If you are not sure get in touch :)

15.01.2022 We will remember them

14.01.2022 Making the decision to move into a Residential Care facility has always been a big decision laden with all sorts of emotions and repercussions. In the current times this has taken on an even greater complexity with rolling lock downs and restrictions appearing around the country as we grapple with the best way to contain the virus. The implication is that if your loved one is moving into a facility, you may not be able to see them in person for some time. It is not our aim t...o be alarmist here, but rather help you think about all the considerations and plan the best way forward for you. So what can you do? Usually at the point a person is considering permanent care they are either in crisis or have significant frailty or care needed. But not always. Sometimes, with a little forward planning and an honest appraisal of resources; both human and financial, there is a way to support someone for a little longer. The critical consideration here is to plan early! If you or someone you care for is likely to need permanent care over the next few months and you are not comfortable about what that means please reach and let’s chat about the options that might be available. See more

10.01.2022 The latest Home Care report card has been released. If it was your school report the comment would be tries hard but plenty of room for improvement. Whilst 6,100 new packages have been recently announced there are still more than 100,000 people on a waiting list 1 in 5 of these people are waiting for a Level 4 package (which is the highest care level). So what do you do while you wait? You still need extra help at home. There are solutions and Family Aged Care Advocates can help you. Let’s chat.

10.01.2022 3 Simple questions to help indicate whether Family Aged Care Advocates can help you, your family member or someone you know. A yes to any of these indicates an area where we can help you with your aged care journey. The more yes answers the more important it is that you need help with your care journey. We care and are here to help. Feel free to get in contact through Instagram, Link in Bio, facebook, LinkedIn and through our website.

10.01.2022 Did you know we not only service the North Coast of NSW where we are ever so grateful to be based, but we service all of Australia! We also help ex-pats with family members in Aus that cannot be here physically to look into care options or even just starting the conversation on what next. We are so lucky we can help so many people all over Australia

10.01.2022 Live for today and worry about tomorrow when it comes. We hear that said a lot. Easy to do in good times not as easy in not-so-good times. We’re all seeing that unfold now right before our own eyes. Sadly, the aged care journey starts for many when something unplanned happens.... There are a number of things you can do before that unplanned day arrives. At Family Aged Care Advocates we can help you put that list together. Let’s chat.

08.01.2022 You may have seen the 7.30pm report the other night? The story emphasised the surprise many families are experiencing with the high fees for home care. One of the things we pride ourselves on is making sure this doesn't happen to you or your loved ones and if it is happening, it is our job to get to the bottom of it and get you a better outcome. ... You can read the article here and contact us to chat anytime about your home care package. We are here to help :) https://www.abc.net.au//families-surprised-by-hig/12642794 See more

08.01.2022 In this video we discuss the concern around whether or not someone has to sell their family home when going into residential aged care . Usually it’s the largest asset that someone has and there is a lot of emotion attached. We answer questions we get from people everyday in this short video. We hope it is helpful for you :)

07.01.2022 If you have been following our posts you will know that we are really passionate about planning ahead to get better outcomes. Recently we have been working with some clients who were responding to an immediate crisis and were following the steps in the system to solve the problem. However, when we sat down and developed a Dignity Plan for the family it quickly became clear that the approval granted was not right for their situation and wishes, it was going to seriously restr...ict the options available to them to age well on their terms. This is not an uncommon situation and is not the fault of anyone. It is just about needing to be clear about your needs now and in the future. And having a good understanding of how the system works, this is where Family Aged Care Advocates can help. We have a deep understanding of the system and can help you and your family plan the best way to make it work for your situation. Head to our website to see more or contact us here :) https://familyagedcareadvocates.com.au/ See more

07.01.2022 Finding the right Home Care Provider starts with understanding your situation. Here's an idea of the process to help you get the right provider for you: - We will visit you at your home and seek to understand your situation. - We meet with you and your key people, either virtually or in person, and to develop a comprehensive Dignity Plan that will ensure your care needs, desires and priorities are identified.... - Based on what you have identified as important to you, we will help you select a provider by providing you with a report limited to 3 providers we believe will best suit you (we are a completely independent organisation and have NO ties to service providers; we undertake research into providers to ensure that those we put forward are a good match for you). - We can help you with the completion of Centrelink forms and ongoing communication with Centrelink. - We can help you with the sign-up and on- boarding process. - We will provide a support review at 1 month and 3 months, after you decide on your Stay at Home strategy or sign up with a provider, to ensure that everything is going the way you want. We review your Dignity Plan and make sure the home care services are being delivered as agreed. See more

05.01.2022 Let’s take a closer look at some of those acronyms that you need to know to successfully understand how the financials work.. RADs: Refundable Accommodation Deposits. This used to be known as a Bond. It is equivalent to buying a house. DAPs: Daily Accommodation Payments. This can be likened to a rental payment. The amount is tied to the RAD values and interest rate set by the government.... RACs: Refundable Accommodation Contributions. These apply to those who are eligible for some Government assistance and are similar to RADs. DACs: Daily Accommodation Contributions. Also for those eligible for Government assistance. Equivalent to the rental style DAP. ACFI: Aged Care Funding Instrument. This is the method by which the Facility assesses and claims funding from the Government for the care needs of residents who reside at the Facility.

05.01.2022 You’ve waited months and months (and sometimes more months) for your home care package funds to be approved. You eventually get a letter from the Government saying the funds are approved and now available for you all you have to do is pick a provider. With 900+ providers (at last count) to choose from where do you start to find one that’s best for you?

03.01.2022 In this video we break down the 4 levels of home care, how the Australian Government assists and how much. It is a great insight and makes it super easy to understand home care with so much info out there! Happy to answer any questions you might have,we are here to help :)

02.01.2022 The cost of residential aged care is varied and what you pay will depend on the facility you choose, your personal financial situation and the agreement that you come to with the facility. It is good to remember that the prices listed for a room on the My Aged Care portal are the maximum price that the facility can ask for that room but they are not necessarily a fixed price.

02.01.2022 We are here to help make what might seem like a daunting part of life, a lot more simple and comfortable for you and your family. We are your friendly Aged Care Advocates and can give you all your options when planning for you future in a clear and concise way. We help people every day in finding the best solution for them, saving them money, time and worry. If you would like to have a chat to us please give us a call!

01.01.2022 Filling out Centrelink paperwork incorrectly can be anything from frustrating to expensive. We’ve been saying this for a while a former Treasurer now agrees from personal experience. "I don't know how a person going into a nursing home would ever be able to fill it in." he says (you can see the article below) It’s hoped that comments like his will be heard loud and clear and things will change to do aged care better in the future. Family Aged Care Advocates can help take the confusion and frustration away we help complete the paperwork correctly, send it in, follow it up and make sure the answers received back look correct. If you want some help saving stress, time and money let’s chat. https://www.abc.net.au//peter-costello-royal-com/12669774

01.01.2022 Happy Holidays everyone! Thank you all for your support this year. We are so thrilled to be able to help so many families on their Journeys in aging with dignity. Stay safe x