Understanding the Types of Aged Care Services

There are different types of aged care services available for people looking for care. The wide range of options — each with a difficult name — means it’s easy to get confused. 

The basic concept with aged care is that not all facilities are equal. Different types of aged care services cater to a variety of physical as well as emotional needs. 

For example, dementia care revolves around helping people with Alzheimer’s and other causes of dementia. On the other hand, palliative care is designed for people who have incurable diseases and focuses on keeping patients comfortable. 

If you’re confused where to begin when it comes to seeking aged care services, the best way to start is by understanding the different types available. Learning about the different options makes it easy to come up with a care plan that fits your needs and wants. 

Palliative Care

Palliative care — also known as end-of-life care — is a specialized type of care for individuals who are not expected to recover from their illnesses and have been termed as “terminal”. These can be extremely stressful and trying times for families, which is why palliative care is often essential in such cases.

Palliative care offers support to both the person with the incurable illness as well as their families and friends. 

Most nursing homes and aged care facilities offer palliative care services. Some even have partnerships with committed units that are specialized in palliative care. Facilities offering palliative care provide necessary social, spiritual, physical, and emotional support to all their residents as well as their loved ones.

Palliative care focuses on providing pain management, good quality of life, and family support. It’s important to realize that palliative care support programs offer pain relief and treatment of symptoms that lead to discomfort but do not offer assistance in delaying or hastening death. 

The emphasis is on providing comfort, 24/7 care, and a sense of dignity for residents during the time that they have left. 

Palliative care should start as soon as needed and can last anywhere from a few days to a year or so. Be sure to discuss your needs with aged care service providers to start receiving care as quickly as possible.

Home Care

Not being comfortable with the idea of leaving home and going to a nursing home can delay and even prevent many people from seeking aged care altogether. This is where home care comes in. It offers a great alternative for people who want to receive personal care at their homes.

In-home care provides support to help individuals stay independent and in a familiar environment for as long as possible. In-home care services can help senior citizens with things like personal care, transportation, housework, physiotherapy, grocery shopping, and food. The exact type of home care provided depends on the program and service you opt for. 

Also, many governments offer subsidized programs for aged care so be sure to do your research. 

For example, the government in Australia subsidizes entry-level support programs through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) and offers more complex support services through Home Care Packages (HCP) to make aged care solutions affordable for its residents.

Permanent Residential Care (Nursing Homes)

This is one of the most popular types of aged care services. Permanent residential care — or nursing homes — are standard care facilities that are designed to provide old aged residents with healthcare facilities and support in performing necessary day to day activities.

People may lose the ability to live independently as they grow older whether it’s from disabilities or illnesses. For these people, living in residential care facilities may be the only feasible option. 

Nursing homes offer 24/7 medically trained nursing staff and personal carers to cater to the needs of every resident. All daily care necessities such as food and clean clothes are also provided by the facilities.

Short-Term Care

Short-term (or transitional) care is designed to help people during the recovery process after a hospital stay. The basic goal is get people back on their feet and improve their wellbeing.

Respite care is another form of short-term care that can be provided at your home, at a nursing home, or in the community. Respite care offers periodic care to individuals when family members or carers are unavailable or on a break for a brief period. This is a temporary form of care and ends with the resident returning to their homes.

Specialized Dementia Care

Dementia refers to cognitive decline. It affects an individual’s ability to remember things and hampers their reasoning. This makes it difficult for patients to perform most daily activities. It’s important to realize that everyone diagnosed with the disease experiences it in their own way and often needs specialized care.

Specialized dementia care programs provide optimal care and the safest environment for residents that have dementia. Facilities offering dementia care programs often have medical staff that are specifically trained to work with people diagnosed with the condition. 

People with dementia require 24/7 care (for even the most basic activities of living such as going to the toilet) and management of particular behaviors, which is something that most families and some carers fail to provide. 

If you’re in search of care for someone with dementia, seeking specialized dementia care might be the best thing for both you and your loved one’s well-being. Since most people with dementia are elderly, here are some more things to prepare for as your loved ones age.