Ageing Support Services - April Newsletter
- Kate Helmore
- Apr 30
- 4 min read
Almost every initial client call I receive starts the same ‘I’ve been trying to work this out on my own, I’m so overwhelmed and I don’t know what to do next!’. If you’ve been feeling this way, trust me, you are not alone. There are so many tasks to do, contacts to know, forms to complete and processes to understand that the whole thing can feel completely defeating.
Having been in the aged care sector for 15 years now, I feel the saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ is also incredibly relevant to ageing. It absolutely takes a village to support someone ageing.
For this reason, the theme I’ve chosen for April is
Ageing Support Services.
Now if you’re a long-time subscriber, you might be thinking… but Kate, you already did a newsletter on Ageing Support Services in March 2024. To which I say, you’re right. However, I only had 54 subscribers then and many things can change in a year that might have you reading this information in a different light.
I thought today I would take you through the key aged care services that I refer clients to and why I think they’re invaluable.
1. Specialised Aged Care Financial Advisors
I recommend most of my clients receive specialist aged care financial advice, especially when they’re moving into residential aged care. There are several ways you can structure payments for aged care facilities, which will have various pros/cons depending on your income and assets. Having individualised advice can go a long way to ensure you maximise your assets and are smart about your decisions. As a placement consultant/broker, I can explain how the various fees work and what your options are, but I don’t provide any advice about what option is best for you. A specialised financial advisor is the way to go!
2. Support with Centrelink Forms
Having done Grandma’s pension forms once, I will absolutely be outsourcing this in future! Pension applications, moving into residential care declarations of assets and nominating representatives are some of the most common Centrelink forms which will inevitably exhaust/confuse/frustrate you. Having someone complete these for you is worth its weight in gold!
3. Home Office Assistance
For some seniors (especially those without families readily available) managing budgets, paying bills, handling online accounts and keeping paperwork under control can feel overwhelming. There are wonderful people that specialise in home admin/home office assistance and can work with them to keep everything paid and up to date.
4. Retirement Village Specialists
Retirement living is its own universe. The contracts can be quite specific, the inclusions change from site to site and the additional services available can vary greatly. Being connected with people that specialise in retirement village contracts and those who intimately know the various pros/cons to different sites can be extremely beneficial.
5. Aged Care Removalists and Decluttering Services
Downsizing from a long-term family home is a serious job – physically, mentally and emotionally. For those who may not have families available to help (due to distance, capacity or relationships), you can outsource the task and have a company look after it for you. This can also be incredibly helpful if you have a loved one who tends to collect things… Having an external organisation come in and help tidy up can be less confronting for some.
6. End of Life Planning
There are amazing humans that can hold your hand (literally!) through the steps and stages of end-of-life care. A terminal health diagnosis can be a lot to process, especially if it comes unexpectedly. Supporting a loved one through end-of-life can be incredibly exhausting – trying to process your own grief, whilst supporting them through their own is A LOT. End of life carers or doulas are there to provide emotional support, be a source of knowledge and a rock to lean on in an incredibly difficult time.
7. After Death Administration
I platformed this topic last month, but I am a big advocate for planning ahead in all facets of ageing, especially after death administration. There are endless accounts to close, pieces of paperwork to submit, calls to make and information to hunt down after someone dies. Having someone support you through this process can give you the time and space to grieve.
If you would like to be connected with anyone from the list above, please send me through your name, location & what help you need and I’ll connect you with someone in your area.
If you want to have a look through some old podcast episodes, you can search for ‘The Truth About Ageing’. I release episodes sporadically which are available through your favourite podcast app (Apple Podcasts, Spotify) or at www.navigateagedcare.com.au/podcast.
Occasionally I also post updates on socials, which you can find at:
Facebook - @navigateagedcareau
Instagram - @thetruthaboutageing
Thank you again for being part of the Navigate gang.
Big love,
Kate.
If you’d like to chat about your unique situation and gain a better understanding of options available to you, please book a free 15 minute consult via the ‘Book Now’ button below.
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