Aged care is something that a lot of us will need at some point in our lives, and it’s important that the standards of aged care are always being improved and upgraded so that we’re offering the best possible care. Currently we need a creative approach and greater innovation in order to solve some of the problems that we’re facing. Contact My Home Care if you need further advice about home aged care.
It’s estimated that half of Australian men and two-thirds of Australian women over the age of 65 are going to need formal aged care at some point, with those figures only set to rise with our ageing population. Here are some of our top innovative solutions for addressing current issues – feel free to share yours with us as well.
Intergenerational living
Many older people want to stay in their home. In many cases though, it’s hard to keep up with yard work, cleaning and other manual labour tasks that become tough as you age. There are initiatives in place with community centres where younger people are matched with older homeowners who rent out a room for cheap in exchange for cleaning tasks and housework.
The younger person acts as a kind of carer, taking on tasks such as cooking, gardening, cleaning or help with transport to appointments and around town. For many older people there’s pressure to move into a retirement home or a care facility, but people want to stay in their homes surrounded by their memories and treasures. It’s also a socially preferred option for many people who want to stay in the community they know and love.
Communal living
For many people, the idea of living alone as part of an aging couple can be fraught – especially when one half of the partnership falls ill or suffers some kind of injury. Peace of mind is important – and one way that we can approach this is with communal living independently.
By coming together with a group of friends and living in a shared environment, it’s possible to share the load of chores while still enjoying plenty of socialising – and your own space and privacy when you want it.
In-home care from the community
With many people not wanting to leave their homes a way that the Australian Government is contributing is with in-home care. In many cases, the care is completely funded by the government and is offered for a few hours a week up to around 16-hours per week. This kind of care can help to alleviate some of the strain of caring for a relative with a disability or an illness and can offer much needed respite for them as well.
These are just three potential ways that we can help to tackle the problems facing our aged care industry – with plenty more to come up with as well! By championing innovative and interesting ways to manage the living arrangements and standards of care that our aging population receives, we’ll see a much happier and more vibrant aging population for years to come.
