4 types of aged care – what’s best for your loved one?

Helping a loved one make the transition into aged care is not always an easy task.
There are many different types of care available, what’s best for your loved one will depend on their health and individual needs. Here are 4 types of aged care in Australia.

RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE

Residential aged care offers care and support for people living on-site, on a permanent basis. With residential aged care, residents have access to accommodation and a range of help and support and personal care. Residential aged care also offers access to nursing and health care services.

24/7 support from a professional medical team

Residential care is suited to senior individuals who can no longer live independently. There is a dedicated professional team of GPs and therapists available and staff who provide a safe and relaxed environment with all the comforts of home.

Residents are encouraged to embrace their own routine and decide how they are cared for, enabling them to remain as independent as possible.

A variety of events and activities

In residential care residents can enjoy a variety of events, outings and everyday activities. Each aged care home is different, but many offer bus trips into the community, lunches, board games, happy hour and many other events and activities.

Like all types of aged care, visits from family and friends are welcome, with many residential aged care homes providing specially designed spaces for entertaining and catching up with family and friends.

Residential aged care homes provide:

• Access to 24/7 medical care, clinical care and other therapies.
• Help with meals, cleaning and laundry
• Help with personal care such as bathing and dressing.

DEMENTIA CARE

About 472,000 Australians live with dementia, and another 1.6 million are involved in their care. With this staggering statistic it’s important to have aged care homes that specialise in the care of individuals with dementia.

Dementia care offers individuals with dementia a caring and supportive environment where they can access 24/7 medical care in a secure setting. If it’s too difficult for you to take care of your loved one, dementia care provides a safe residence where they can receive expert care from trained professionals.

Staff working in dementia care are selected and trained in taking care of people with dementia. They take a personal approach to care, understanding that every individual’s needs are different and every resident has a different journey with this illness.

In dementia care, staff aim to make residents feel at home, while providing round-the-clock onsite nursing care. Dementia care is supportive, but staff also encourages residents to be as independent as possible while helping them navigate their environment with as little stress as possible.

RESPITE CARE

Looking after ageing loved ones is not always easy. It’s a constant balance between caring for their needs and attending to other areas of your life.

Respite care allows caregivers to have a short break from caring for their loved ones, a great chance to reset and take some time for yourself. Respite care is also applicable for those who have just left hospital, giving much needed respite before your loved one returns home.

Respite care is short term care, available from a few days, up to a few weeks at a time. During their time in respite residents will have access to the same support as permanent residents.

PALLIATIVE CARE

When someone is facing a life-threatening illness it’s important that they receive the best care possible. It’s important to find somewhere they’ll receive the help and support they need as they go through this difficult time.

We know one of the hardest decisions a loved one has to make is to place a family member or friend into palliative care. It’s important to find an aged care home that will provide your loved one with the best quality of life as they go through this difficult time.

The aim of palliative care is to give residents everything they need to enjoy quality of life as they face their life-threatening illness.

A palliative care team will always ensure palliative care residents feel as comfortable and stress free as possible. They are often multi-disciplinary teams, doing everything they can to prevent or relieve the suffering of their residents, providing treatment of physical, emotional and social symptoms.

An important aspect of palliative care is providing family members the peace of mind that your loved ones are in the best hands.

The palliative care team will work closely with residents and their families to undertake the journey together and always strive to protect the dignity and independence of palliative care residents.

No matter which level of care is suitable for your loved one, HillView Premium Aged Care is here for you. Our team will be here to guide you every stop of the way. We are privately owned by medical specialist Dr Stephen Rackemann, who believes passionately about excellence in care and the wellbeing of residents.

Dr Rackemann’s goal is to ensure residents receive care with the utmost respect and compassion in a comfortable home away from home environment that is friendly and personalised. You will not find a team more passionate and dedicated to providing excellent care.

Contact HillView today for more information on our different types of care and to discuss what options are right for you and your loved one.