Assisting the Elderly

 

There is huge pressure on the Australian in-home care system to find suitable placements for older people. On 30 June 2021, there were 28,088 people and children living in out-of-care placements in Australia. These are people who require care from carers but are unable to stay in mainstream nursing homes because of physical or other limitations. This has meant a rapid growth in the industry, as more people with varying degrees of disabilities are being put into home care services.

The main drivers of this growth are an aging population and the rising number of elderly people who are not in a position to return to work or take up any further education. Both of these factors contribute to an increase in the number of people requiring assistance with day-to-day activities such as dressing, getting up in the morning and taking a shower. In addition, more people are also claiming benefits or other means-tested payments from the pension system, making it harder for the system to cope with the increased demand. This has resulted in more people than ever needing the kind of care that can help them retain their independence and maintain their health.

The increasing need for care for elderly people means that Australia has developed a number of innovative policies for elderly care. One policy that the federal government introduced called the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (PDBS) helped to increase the number of patients who can be treated with pharmaceuticals. According to the Medicare Australia website, this policy "guarantees certain treatments for long-standing and severe physical problems that are needed by Medicare recipients". For example, it covers the costs of prescription drugs for "serious" psychological conditions like bipolar disorder and depression, and also covers the cost of physiotherapy. It is hoped that this will reduce the number of people relying on pharmaceutical assistance to provide treatment.

Another innovative policy that the federal government has introduced into the Australian economy is the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The primary aim of the scheme is to reduce the incidence of disability-related incidents and to improve the health of the elderly in order that they can enjoy a better quality of life. The main features of the scheme are a focus on investment in the vision and hearing ability of the elderly, and improved access to nursing homes. The main features of the NDI include provision of home grants to residents, low levels of premium payments, reduction of income support, and priority listing of disabled persons in the development of new communities. The scheme is targeted at the elderly, who have the greatest need for independent living, and who have the highest probability of developing disability. As an incentive for people to move to retirement villages, the federal government also offers tax credits for first home buyers.

The main aspects of the NDI include the provision of home care services in rural and remote areas, training of the elderly in hospitals and nursing homes, and promotion of community integration. In rural areas, where the elderly are primarily living in small houses without running water or electricity, home care services may be difficult to establish due to lack of funds and infrastructure. In retirement villages, where the residents are confined to their homes for long periods, it becomes necessary to provide for these needs on a budgetary basis. In both cases, the elderly require skilled and experienced staff in order that they can remain independent. To attract home care workers from overseas, both the federal and state governments offer attractive package deals.

For those who are considering moving to retirement villages, or who are already in retirement, sending the family to a nursing home is a costly proposition. The advent of in-home respite care services in Australia has helped make the experience more pleasant for these families. Instead of having to pay hefty sums for a private nursing home, recipients of respite care in Australia can use their benefits to send their families to an attractive hostel. Respite care services deliver high levels of care and service and also allow the family to return to a comfortable routine, thereby bringing back some sense of normalcy to the lives of their loved ones. This enables them to resume work and pursue other hobbies and activities, once the hectic, stressful days of retirement draw to a close.

It's easy to find nursing home care services in Australia - look for a company that specialises in offering personal care services for the older people in your area. If you live in Brisbane, for example, look for one that specialises in home care for the older people in the surrounding communities. Personal care refers to professional health care provided by trained personnel in the form of support services like housekeeping, meal provision, or emotional and companionship assistance. Look for a company that also offers rehabilitation services if you need to recover from an injury or illness.

To make sure that the elderly receive all the personal care they require, choose a home care services provider who has a strong reputation and experience in the industry. In order to provide good personal care, home care services need to have skilled staff. Make sure that the company employs only well-trained individuals, so that safety and quality of care are maintained at all times. Look for feedback and customer testimonials online. Once you start engaging in home care services in Australia, you'll understand just how important it is to ensure the safety of your family and friends, as well as achieve effective health care and rehabilitation outcomes for those that require it.