Looking after my grandma

As people get older, the necessity of residential aged care becomes more and more likely. Maybe there's been a diagnosis of dementia or some other serious condition, or perhaps the person in question is simply becoming frail and starting to find life difficult.

Whatever has triggered the decision for someone to move into an aged care community, it's a positive one that can really help them live life a fulfilling life without the worry that comes with being alone.

Once that decision has been made, however, and even after a new home has been chosen, it's not always possible for someone to move right away. There might be financial reasons or other things stopping an immediate move, but in the meantime, it's important to make sure the person is safe and looked after. Here are some options you can consider for the stage before the move.

Living with family

In the long-term, an older person moving in with family members isn't always the best choice. They might need someone around to help them all day, or there may not be room in the potential family members' houses; either way, it's not a solution that suits anyone.

On a temporary basis, however, things can often be rearranged so that it becomes a possibility. Maybe you can take some time off work to look after your relative, or give up your bedroom for a week or two. It's worth considering even if you'd decided a permanent move to live with family wasn't possible.

A live-in carer

With this option, the person doesn't need to move twice. They can simply stay in their home, but have someone around all the time to help them with whatever they need. This also means there's someone on hand if the person has a fall or has a health emergency.

It's only a possibility if there's room in the person's home to accommodate someone living with them for a while, however.

Part-time assistance

Someone waiting to move into an aged care home might not need full-time care and assistance at the moment. In this case, having someone to check up on them once or twice a day can be enough.

This could be a professional person who's paid, or just a family member with the time to drop by regularly.

Temporary accommodation

Even if there's something preventing the permanent move happening right away, you might be able to organise temporary aged care accommodation. This could be in the same place the person is eventually moving to or another home in the area. Make some phone calls and see what you can arrange.