Home care really does come in all shapes and sizes, and is designed to keep you active and independent, living in your own home. But assistance is much more than cleaning your home and mowing your lawn.
- Perfect companions
WHETHER it’s cooking up a storm or just having a coffee and a donut out together, Anglicare At Home client Pat is always glad to see her carers.
Eight years ago after a bout of bowel cancer, 94-year-old Pat, from NSW, decided she needed help at home. “I was recovering. Anglicare came in and they were fantastic,” she said.
“They got me breakfast and got me showered and comfortable for the day. I could never have made it to this grand old age without them.”
While admitting initially it was “a bit off-putting” having someone in the house, it’s now more about friendship.
“You’re glad to see them, and they’re pleased to see you – and they do everything I need done, even down to walking my little puppy Montie.”
Pat’s needs have now become greater and she gets a visit every day.
- Pet projects
After almost 60 years of marriage, 77-year-old Maria found herself alone following the death of her husband Luciano. She now lives at home with the help of a Brotherhood of St Laurence aged care package and her client advisor Alice.
“I couldn’t cope without Alice,” Maria said. “She suggested services I didn’t know existed” – such as the solution to cope with Maria having to let her dog Buddy in and out of the house at night.
“Alice suggested a doggy door and arranged to install one. It’s the best thing I’ve had – I can finally sleep through the night.”
- Wearable tech
As well as offering traditional home care services, leading aged care organisations have a wide range of technology products to help people remain living safely in their own home.
Feros Care Lifelink operations manager Anthony Bacon said a key focus is to prevent and reduce falls, a major cause of injury that often lead to hospital admission. “Simple technologies can help prevent falls,” he said.
The Lumo Lift is a small, lightweight wearable device to improve posture and a maintain a healthy back. Putting it on reminds the wearer to stand tall and look ahead. If you slouch, or look at your feet, it will vibrate.
Pendant alarms worn around the neck or as a bracelet that call for help in an emergency remain popular.
The MePACS is a new 24/7 personal alarm, which is on whether you’re out and about or at home. The alarm is NBN compatible and is backed by a major public health network.
Other popular products include sensors installed at a person’s home, such as Feros Care’s Care@Home, which learns the person’s daily behaviours and sends an alert for help if anything changes dramatically.
- Home modifications
Oliver King, director at P R King & Sons, an Australian company specialising in stairlifts and residential lifts, believes the need to future-proof homes with safety and mobility devices is vital to ensure people have greater choice about where they live out their retirement years.
“Stairs shouldn’t ever be a daily struggle, nor should they be the reason a person has to move out of the home they love,” Mr King said.
Mobility devices and modifications also help to safeguard against accidents.
“So many falls around the home are avoidable,” Mr King said.
“Home modifications will also cost far less than relocating, and the benefits of independence and wellbeing far outweigh the initial outlay.”
Next Level Elevators installs Compact Home Lifts. Co-founder Daniel Mawson said the lifts are a good way to provide home access for those in need of a safe, discreet and compact alternative to the stairlift.
He said that the main advantage of the Compact Lifts range of home elevators is that they can be fitted virtually anywhere because they are not powered by hydraulics and do not need to be fixed to walls or floors.
- Access all areas
Pat Muskett is one of hundreds of people who receive a home care package from Uniting AgeWell, helping them to remain independent and active.
Every week the 81-year-old Hobart resident receives help with cleaning, ironing and personal care in the home she shares with her husband.
Uniting AgeWell also renovated her bathroom, making it wheelchair accessible, and installed a ramp in her home to make getting around easier.
“Without the support I don’t think we’d be able to stay at home,” Pat said.
