Very sorry to hear that. I have had experience with it, and navigating some of the aged care realm.
A lot depends what stage a person is at. Some things I wasn’t fully aware of that I recommend, and this applies to not just dementia, but any elderly person.
Make sure you have Will, Power of Attorney and Enduring Guardian set up.
Engage Aged Care as soon as possible. The earlier you can get ACAT assessments, the better. It can take 6-12 months before any assistance is approved, so you need to not wait till help is needed. Also, learning about the system now will save you great stress and anxiety later on. You will need ACAT assessments if you want to get assistance at home, or to apply for residence at aged care homes.
Check out your local council. Some of them have respite or other assistance for seniors etc
Get and take all the help you can. This is not a pride or charity situation. It’s about getting all the help your Dad, you, and your family deserve. And that enables you to get and/or provide the best help.
Lastly, you and any carers need space and time. You can’t provide your best if you’re burned out. Make sure you get time for yourself and your own family and friends. Eg, You can get up to 63 days a year respite (once you get the appropriate ACAT approvals)
Very sorry to hear that. I have had experience with it, and navigating some of the aged care realm.
A lot depends what stage a person is at. Some things I wasn’t fully aware of that I recommend, and this applies to not just dementia, but any elderly person.
Make sure you have Will, Power of Attorney and Enduring Guardian set up.
Engage Aged Care as soon as possible. The earlier you can get ACAT assessments, the better. It can take 6-12 months before any assistance is approved, so you need to not wait till help is needed. Also, learning about the system now will save you great stress and anxiety later on. You will need ACAT assessments if you want to get assistance at home, or to apply for residence at aged care homes.
Check out your local council. Some of them have respite or other assistance for seniors etc
Get and take all the help you can. This is not a pride or charity situation. It’s about getting all the help your Dad, you, and your family deserve. And that enables you to get and/or provide the best help.
Lastly, you and any carers need space and time. You can’t provide your best if you’re burned out. Make sure you get time for yourself and your own family and friends. Eg, You can get up to 63 days a year respite (once you get the appropriate ACAT approvals)
Thank you @[email protected] for a very thoughtful and helpful reply.