Olivet Aged Care Ringwood

Maintaining Independence

Older adults sometimes struggle to manage their daily life without some assistance. No one wants to lose their independence, so it's important to navigate this stage with respect and love by asking the older adult what care and support they need.

What to look for in this stage?

• You may notice initial stages of minor memory loss.
• You may witness some difficulty with ordinary, everyday activities like cleaning, running errands, gardening, and walking.
• Your loved one may struggle a little more than usual managing their own health
• Some anxiety, depression, fear of the future, or loneliness may arise
• Going to places or driving can also become a more challenging experience.

How can you support your loved one at this stage?

• Involve the elder person in the decision-making process
• Provide support and listen to their concerns
• Encourage the older person to keep as active as possible and to eat well
• Investigate the services that can be put into place to help the older person stay at home
• This is the time when, if it hasn’t been done, that the older person has a medical and financial attorney and that their personal affairs are in place. This is a conversation to have with the persons medical doctor or solicitor.

Things are getting harder

At this stage everyday tasks are harder to perform

At this stage the older person is having more difficulty managing everyday tasks such as cooking and attending to their personal hygiene. They may also experience a decline in memory or in physical abilities. You may find that you are doing more such as providing meals, assisting with their shower, making sure that they are taking their medications. The older person may be experiencing more falls and are requiring more support to manage their day. 

What to look for at this stage

• The older person may become more withdrawn 

• They may resist help
• It becomes obvious that the older person is not managing and they require more assistance.

How to support your loved one at this stage

• Stay on top of any medicines your elder may require 
• They may need some home modifications so that they can continue the ageing process in a safe way. 
• Start having a conversation about alternative options for transportation as driving may become a hazard. 
• Consider professional help for certain tasks such as cooking, cleaning, bathing and companionship. 
• Stay on top of your loved one’s chronic health conditions, help them book medical appointments and motivate them to continue with healthy habits. 
• Encourage social support from other family members and friends, as well as regular check-ins  
• Stress, anxiety, and depression are common, so it is important to encourage conversation about  feelings regarding their ageing journey and if needed don't be afraid of seeking counselling.
• Ask your doctor about getting the older person an assessment in case they need respite or residential care in an emergency. 

Becoming Dependant 

During this stage, the older person is reliant on you for most tasks. It can be a worrying time as you become concerned for the older person's safety while you are not with them. Even with support of carers going into the home it is not enough as the person is not safe when left alone. It may be necessary to move into the older person’s home to care for them or move them into your home so 24 hour care can be provided.

What to look for during this stage

• Increased falls due to changes in mobility
• Loss of weight as the person may forget to eat.
• Increased incontinence
• Escalation of chronic conditions due to the inability to care for themselves
• Medications not being taken. 
• Becoming more withdrawn.

How to support your loved one at this stage

• Provide more services which may be 24/7
• Ensure nutritious meals are provided or be present at at mealtimes.
• Make certain that the house is safe.
• Assist with appointments
• Talk to a health professional and support groups for advice on how to manage the changes you are noticing.
• Start investigating residential care for long term care or respite care or day programs to give yourself some time to catch up on the things you need to do in the day and to have a rest.

Crisis Management 

Crisis management occurs when an older person experiences a significant health event such as a fall resulting in a fracture or their mobility is affected and they can no longer return home. A person’s pain becomes debilitating, and they can no longer move about freely in their own home.  They may experience an increase in a health condition such as dementia whereby the older person is becoming more disorientated and may be found wandering outside at night or leaving the gas on in the house.  There are a myriad of situations that can make it dangerous for the older person to remain at home and a residential facility becomes the only option.

This is a very stressful time for family and friends when the decision for the future care of the older person requires urgent attention and decisions need to be made quickly. 

How to support your loved one at this stage

This is the time when you need to look at different facilities to find the right fit for the older person you are caring for.

• Choose your homes and ask for a tour.
• Make sure the staff are friendly.
• Look for the cleanliness of the home
• How happy do the residents look
• Are they well presented?
• Is there an RN rostered on 24/7
• Ask to look at the menu
• Talk to staff
• Get a feel of the home.
• Choosing the right home for the older person that will provide excellent care will provide you with a sense of security knowing that you have chosen well and the older person will be well cared for.

Extensive Assistance

Extensive assistance is required when the older person can no longer care for themselves, and family and friends can no longer provide safe care. This can come about after a crisis such as a fall or a stroke, or just through decline in health. 

This is a very stressful time for family and friends when the decision for the future care of the older person requires urgent attention and it is time to find the right facility for the person you are caring for. 

How to support your loved one at this stage

This is the time when you need to look at different facilities to find the right fit for the older person you are caring for.

• Choose your homes and ask for a tour.
• Make sure the staff are friendly.
• Look for the cleanliness of the home
• How happy do the residents look
• Are they well presented?
• Is there an RN rostered on 24/7
• Ask to look at the menu
• Talk to staff
• Get a feel of the home.
• Choosing the right home for the older person that will provide excellent care will provide you with a sense of security knowing that you have chosen well and the older person will be well cared for.

Dementia and Special Care

Dementia is a progressive illness and the person diagnosed with dementia will continue to decline as they age. With the right supports the person with dementia is able to participate actively in the community for a long time. There does come a time when it is unsafe for the person to remain at their home without 24/7 care. 

For the carer this can be extremely stressful particularly if the person you are caring for is not sleeping at night, is wanting to leave the family home and wander at night, is no longer able to manage the personal hygiene and maybe resistive to receiving care. 

It is important to keep in touch with your doctor for both the person you are caring for and for yourself to ensure you stay well and do not suffer from carer stress. 

There are many supports in the community to initially provide assistance such as Dementia Services Australia, Home Care Services, Day Programs and Respite care. 

Eventually the time will come when you need to look for residential care. It is important to find a home that offers specialised dementia care, for example, a memory support unit. 

How to support your loved one at this stage

This is the time when you need to look at different facilities to find the right fit for the older person you are caring for.

• Choose your homes and ask for a tour.
• Make sure they offer memory support
• Make sure the staff are friendly.
• Look for the cleanliness of the home
• How happy do the residents look
• Are they well presented?
• Is there an RN rostered on 24/7
• Ask to look at the menu
• Talk to staff
• Get a feel of the home.
• Choosing the right home for the older person that will provide excellent care will provide you with a sense of security knowing that you have chosen well and the older person will be well cared for.