Your Aged Care Compass

With July 1st fast approaching, Flexi Care is preparing for Support at Home (SaH). Providers are still waiting for all the information they need from the government. Flexi Care has adopted a proactive approach to preparing both their staff and their clients for the changes that are coming.Coral and Adrian discuss how Flexi Care is preparing and the challenges they can see. Adrian highlights the aspects of SaH that he feels could present obstacles to both providers and participants. In this episode: Providers still don’t have all the details for Support at HomeHCP levels vs SaH classificationsFunding levels under SaHInterim funding Being approved for services at assessmentDiscussion about the need for nursing and allied health services for everyoneService categories under SaHCo-contributions for different service categoriesCo-contributions for grandfathered participantsCare managementFees under Support at HomeNew funding pathwaysHow Flexi Care is preparing for SaHConnect with Adrian Morgan and Flexi Care: Flexi Care website Adrian Morgan LinkedIn Facebook Connect with Coral Wilkinson: Instagram  LinkedIn  Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:See Me ACN websiteFacebook Instagram  More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home. We'll help you makes sense of Australia’s aged care system and bring you topics related to ageing as well. Legal, financial, health, forward planning and more. Your Aged Care Compass will guide you clearly and compassionately to the right support at the right time for your ageing parents and loved...

Home care provider Flexi Care supports people in the southern areas of Brisbane to live independently, safely and confidently in their own homes and communities. Adrian Morgan is the General Manager of Flexi Care, an independent, not-for-profit provider of in-home services and support. Coral and Adrian discuss Flexi Care’s approach to providing older people with practical help to continue to live well in their own homes, while respecting their rights to make their own choices about the services they receive.In this episode: Recognising that older people’s needs can change quickly and significantlyFlexi Care employs “home care partners” to work with people to best meet their needsCommonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) and Home Care Packages (HCP) explainedFlexi Care delivers both CHSP and HCPWait times for HCPs are, on average, 11 monthsPeople currently receiving CHSP funded services will not be grandfathered under Support at HomeFlexi Care does not sign people up over the phoneFace to face meetings are the best way of sharing informationUnderstanding what a person needs to enjoy their best quality of lifeFlexi Care’s community adventures programFunding availability once a person signs up with Flexi CareChanging providers to Flexi Care and transfer of fundsCare plan reviews are done as often as neededRequesting a support plan reviewNeeding approval for service types under SaH will reduce flexibility for participantsCare management and fees under SaHQuarterly budgets and unspent funds under SaHHow Flexi Care is preparing for Support at Home Connect with Adrian Morgan: Flexi Care website Adrian Morgan LinkedInFlexi Care FacebookConnect with Coral Wilkinson: Instagram  LinkedIn  Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:See Me ACN websiteFacebook Instagram  More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s...

Depending on when you entered the aged care system, you may be grandfathered under SaH. Learn what this means for you and how you will be affected.Grandfathering relates to financial contributions only. It does not relate to the level or number of services you may receive.If you need to be reassessed into a higher classification, you’re still protected financially but you may lose the flexibility you currently enjoy within your home care package.In this episode: The importance of the date Sept 12, 2024Who is grandfathered?Grandfathered participants will be treated differently under SaHChanges in terminologyThe three different groups of participants when SaH beginsNo worse off principle and how it appliesCo-contributions for grandfathered participants explainedHow unspent funds are treatedQuarterly budgetsHow much funding can be rolled over per quarterFlexibility with care plans for grandfathered participantsCare management feesCost of services to include administration feesResources mentioned:Summary of indicative Support at Home pricesConnect with Anna Millicer: Get Smart Aged Care ConsultancyAnna Millicer LinkedInConnect with Coral Wilkinson: Instagram  LinkedIn  Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:See Me ACN websiteFacebook Instagram  More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home. We'll help you makes sense of Australia’s aged care system and bring you topics related to ageing as well. Legal, financial, health, forward planning and more. Your Aged Care Compass will guide you clearly and compassionately to the right support at the right time for your ageing parents and

Understand how your support plan informs your care plan and therefore the support and services you may be able to get from your service provider.The support plan and the care plan are two separate documents yet they are both linked to the in-home support you may receive. It’s important that each one is as detailed as possible to ensure you get the level of in-home support that’s right for you. In this episode: What is a support plan?Information in a support planWhat is a care plan?How the care plan is developedInformation in a care planWhen a care plan should be reviewedCare plans for people assessed after July 1stSupport plan reviews for additional services under SaHWhen and how to get a support plan reviewResources mentioned:Blog – What’s the difference between a support plan and a care plan?Connect with Coral Wilkinson: Instagram  LinkedIn  Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:See Me ACN websiteFacebook Instagram  More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home. We'll help you makes sense of Australia’s aged care system and bring you topics related to ageing as well. Legal, financial, health, forward planning and more. Your Aged Care Compass will guide you clearly and compassionately to the right support at the right time for your ageing parents and loved ones. Like what you hear? Please leave us a rating and review. We’d love you to share this podcast with any friends or family who have older loved ones. 

Having an assessment for in-home support requires preparation on the part of the older person and their family/carers. The assessment tool, the IAT, gathers the information given by the participant and works out a level of support for that person.If the information given is incomplete or lacking in detail, you, as the participant, may miss out on the in-home support you need. Ensure you know what your limitations and difficulties are and articulate those every time you speak to staff at My Aged Care or any assessment organisation. In this episode: It’s essential that people understand how they are being assessedThe integrated assessment tool (IAT)How the IAT worksUnderstand the reasons you’re requesting an assessmentWhat the assessment coversWho can provide information at assessmentWhat assessors are looking at during assessmentThe importance of conveying all your informationService categories under Support at HomeYou must be approved for services within those categories to be able to use your funding for themThe support planResources mentioned:Blog - Getting an assessment under Support at HomeBlog - Understanding Support at HomeBlog - When should I contact My Aged Care?Connect with Coral Wilkinson: Instagram  LinkedIn  Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:See Me ACN websiteFacebook Instagram  More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home. We'll help you makes sense of Australia’s aged care system and bring you topics related to ageing as well. Legal, financial, health, forward planning...

With all the changes coming on July 1st, understanding Support at Home is crucial. Coral and Kathryn discuss how Dovida is preparing to meet this challenge. Unfortunately, providers still need more information about how the program will look once it’s implemented.Regardless of all this, vulnerable older people need continuity of care. They need to be reassured that their services and support won’t be affected.Learn about the changes that Dovida and their clients are likely to be affected by once Support at Home takes effect.In this episode: Understanding what will Support at Home (S@H) look like for current recipients of home care packages?How Dovida is preparing for July 1stThe three service categories under S@H and their co-contributionsProviders are expected to do more for less so efficiencies must be improvedThe restorative care pathway and a reablement approachClinicians bring value to a person’s wellbeing and independenceCare management explainedQuarterly budgets and caps on unspent fundsAssistive technology and home modifications programs End of life pathway explainedAdvantages and disadvantages of S@HResources mentioned:Dept of health and aged care website - classification and budgets for ongoing servicesDept of health and aged care website - short term supportsBlog - what's the difference between a support plan and a care plan?Connect with Kathryn Ewen and Dovida: Kathryn Ewen LinkedInDovida websiteFacebook Dovida Perth MetroInstagram Dovida Perth MetroConnect with Coral Wilkinson: Instagram  LinkedIn  Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:See Me ACN websiteFacebook Instagram  More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care...

Good home care providers want their clients to be well supported and have their needs met. This leads to greater independence and better outcomes for the older person. Dovida (formerly Home Instead) is one such provider. Coral has a chat with Kathryn Ewen, a networker with Dovida Perth Metro, about Dovida’s processes for supporting their clients and how they fulfil their motto of “Your life, your way.”In this episode: Dovida, formerly Home Instead, is a home care providerKathryn’s role as a networkerHelping people navigate a complex aged care systemThe kinds of clients that Dovida supportsThe questions that potential clients askWhat's important to know when you’re looking for a providerEligibility for services and identifying unmet needsWhat makes a good provider?Investing in staff trainingThe process of signing up with DovidaThe importance of working with the client based on their goalsHow quickly a care plan is to be providedSupport plan vs care planHow Dovida develops the client’s care planWhen does funding start?Transitioning to Dovida from another providerUnspent fundsWhen and how Dovida requests a support plan review for a clientTransitioning to Support at HomeSupport under the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) won’t be affected from July 1st, 2025. Kathryn’s key points for getting supportResources mentioned:My Aged Care phone number: 1800 200 422My Aged Care websiteConnect with Kathryn Ewen and Dovida: Kathryn Ewen LinkedIn Dovida websiteFacebook Dovida Perth MetroInstagram Dovida Perth Metro Connect with Coral Wilkinson: Instagram  LinkedIn  Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:See Me ACN websiteFacebook Instagram  More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain...

Welcome back for our first episode of 2025. The aged care sector is undergoing huge changes with the implementation of Support at Home on July 1st. Those changes started last year.Coral and Michelle discuss the topics that we’ll be exploring further on the podcast this year and the guests we’ll invite to join us. We have some very knowledgeable speakers lined up. They’ll be helping us and you, our listeners, to better understand Australia’s aged care system. In this episode: Changes coming to the aged care sectorThe integrated assessment toolThe new Aged Care ActSupport at HomeEpisodes coming with aged care providersOther topics we’ll be covering this yearResources mentioned:Blog - Understanding Support at Home Blog - Getting an assessment under Support at Home Connect with Coral Wilkinson: Instagram  LinkedIn  Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:See Me ACN websiteFacebook Instagram  More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home. We'll help you makes sense of Australia’s aged care system and bring you topics related to ageing as well. Legal, financial, health, forward planning and more. Your Aged Care Compass will guide you clearly and compassionately to the right support at the right time for your ageing parents and loved ones. Like what you hear? Please leave us a rating and review. We’d love you to share this podcast with any friends or family who have older loved ones.

We’re often contacted early in the New Year by people who have spent Christmas with their older loved ones and noticed increased frailty in the older person. This can be quite confronting and lead to some distress and uncertainty about what they should do.Don’t panic. Enjoy your celebrations together and then start some gentle conversations about getting some help at home and what that might look like. These are not easy conversations so pick a quiet time and be prepared to listen to and support the older person. In this episode: This is our 35th episode and the last one for 2024The family gathering at Christmas and what you might noticeIs your loved one getting frailer?When to broach this subjectEnjoy Christmas and leave this conversation for another timeSuggestions for gifts for your older loved oneSpending time with your loved ones is the ultimate giftWe’re offering podcast sponsorship in 2025Next episode is on Tuesday, Feb 4, 2025Resources mentioned:Let’s Talk Consultation https://seemeacn.com.au/lets-talk-consultation/Podcast page for sponsorship proposalConnect with Coral Wilkinson: Instagram  LinkedIn  Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:See Me ACN websiteFacebook Instagram  More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home. We'll help you makes sense of Australia’s aged care system and bring you topics related to ageing as well. Legal, financial, health, forward planning and more. Your Aged Care Compass will guide you clearly and compassionately to the right support at the right time for your ageing parents and loved ones. Like what you hear? Please leave us a rating and review. We’d love you to share this podcast with...

Support at Home (SaH) is the new aged care program, developed in response to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. It will replace the current Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care programs from July 2025, and, eventually, the Commonwealth Home Support Program.Today Michelle and Janine have a chat about the changes that are coming, and those already implemented. Janine is one of our consultants at See Me Aged Care Navigators. She is a registered nurse, a former ACAT assessor and a former national assessor for the My Aged Care assessment workforce. In this episode: Support at Home (SaH) is replacing the current aged care programThe assistive technology and home modifications schemeThe end-of-life pathway.The single assessment workforceThe integrated assessment tool and why it was developedThe new levels of ongoing funding under SaHCategories of services under SaHAssessment determines what services people may receiveParticipant contributionsNew price caps for each service include an administration feeCare management feesBe prepared before making a referral to My Aged CareTriage determines urgency of assessment and who does the assessmentMaking a referral to My Aged Care hasn’t changedLimits to rolling over unspent fundsResources mentioned:Let’s Talk Consultation Connect with Coral Wilkinson: Instagram  LinkedIn  Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:See Me ACN websiteFacebook Instagram  More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home. We'll help you makes sense of Australia’s aged care system and bring you topics related to ageing as well. Legal, financial, health, forward planning and more. Your Aged Care Compass will guide you clearly and...

Supporting an older loved one to move from their own home into residential accommodation is a task that often takes an emotional toll on all family members involved. Sometimes the move can be planned, when the older person acknowledges it’s time to make the move. But more often this significant life change happens during a crisis, when there’s been a massive decline in the older person’s health, often after a hospital admission.In a perfect world, we’d all be having these conversations with our older loved ones, well in advance of this situation arising, but it doesn’t happen like that for many families. Today’s guest, registered psychologist Dr Julie Bajic-Smith, helps us understand the impact on everyone when the time comes for a loved on to move into residential aged care. She discusses how to approach these conversations and how frame the move more positively. In this episode: Only a small percentage of older people move into aged careIndependence vs riskWhen might a person need to move into aged care?How much informal support is provided?How to start a conversation about a move to residential careThe significance of losing independenceMoving a loved one into care doesn’t always reduce stressMoving an older person into care can enhance family relationships Frame things positivelyLoss of insight in the older person and how to deal with thisHave gentle and compassionate conversations earlier and regularlyImproving mental health for older people in residential careResources mentioned:Julie's Book: Beyond the reluctant move Julie’s podcast: So you work in aged care Downloadable: 5 facts about me Let’s Talk Consultation Connect with Dr Julie Bajic-Smith:Website: Wise Care     LinkedIn    Connect with Coral Wilkinson: Instagram  LinkedIn  Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:See Me ACN websiteFacebook Instagram  More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.Michelle is a former

Laura Stasinowsky is an occupational therapist (OT) and dementia consultant who is passionate about supporting people to live well with dementia. Laura works within the Your Brain in Mind clinic in Brisbane. She supports people at any stage of their journey with dementia, working with both the individuals who are diagnosed with dementia and their families.Coral and Laura discuss managing the stress of a new diagnosis. Laura offers strategies to help manage stress. There will be changes in your life and lifestyle and you may experience grief. It’s really important to plan for the future while your cognition is still intact. Consider legal obligations and future care planning. When is a move to a residential care facility needed?In this episode: Can people with dementia misrepresent their cognitive ability?Dealing with the stress of a new diagnosisBe kind to yourselfChanging roles and responsibilitiesGriefPlanning for the futureAdvance health directiveStrategies, assistive technologies and mobility aidsSundowning and how to reduce itWhen is the right time to move a loved one into residential aged care?Laura’s advice if you have a loved one who is getting forgetful Resources mentioned:Let’s Talk ConsultationConnect with Laura Stasinowsky:Website: Alongside YouWebsite: Your Brain in Mind LinkedIn Email: LStasinowsky@alongsideyou.com.auAs part of the Your Brain in Mind Online Education Series, Laura is holding a webinar on the 17th of December called "What does a diagnosis of dementia mean for me and my loved ones?" This session will explore what dementia is, how it affects a person and their family, and what can be done to make the journey with dementia easier. This session is particularly designed to support people who have been recently diagnosed with dementia, as well as those who know a friend or family member with the condition.Webinar DetailsTopic: What does a diagnosis of dementia mean for me and my loved ones?Presenter: Laura StasinowskyDate and Time: 6:00 PM QLD Time (AEST), Tuesday the 17th of December 2024Platform: ZoomRegistration: Please register here to buy tickets and receive the zoom linkCost: $10 + Eventbrite ticketing fee (total: AU$11.73)What will be included in this webinar:What dementia isWhat a diagnosis of dementia means for a person with dementia and those close to themWhat can be done to make the journey with dementia as manageable as possibleQ&A with Laura / time for open discussionConnect with Coral Wilkinson: Instagram  LinkedIn ...

Laura Stasinowsky is an occupational therapist (OT) and dementia consultant who is passionate about supporting people to live well with dementia. Laura works within the Your Brain in Mind clinic in Brisbane. She supports people at any stage of their journey with dementia, working with both the individuals who are diagnosed with dementia and their families.Coral and Laura talk about the role of the OT in improving quality of life for a person diagnosed with dementia. They discuss how to communicate with someone who has advanced dementia and how making small changes to non-verbal cues can improve outcomes.In this episode: What does an occupational therapist (OT) do?How the OT helps a person with dementiaSimple strategies to help people stay independent at homeThe person with dementia usually has other health conditionsHelping people to understand the diagnosis and what to expectThe timing of giving information and why it’s importantUnderstand whether people are coping or notConsider other members of the person’s family as wellThe importance of having a GP reviewFear of social stigmaHow to communicate with someone who has dementiaLoss of peripheral vision and how to work with thisPut yourself in the shoes of the person with dementiaResources mentioned:Let’s Talk ConsultationConnect with Laura Stasinowsky:Website: Alongside You Website: Your Brain in Mind LinkedIn  Email: LStasinowsky@alongsideyou.com.auAs part of the Your Brain in Mind Online Education Series, Laura is holding a webinar on the 17th of December called "What does a diagnosis of dementia mean for me and my loved ones?" This session will explore what dementia is, how it affects a person and their family, and what can be done to make the journey with dementia easier. This session is particularly designed to support people who have been recently diagnosed with dementia, as well as those who know a friend or family member with the condition.Webinar DetailsTopic: What does a diagnosis of dementia mean for me and my loved ones?Presenter: Laura StasinowskyDate and Time: 6:00 PM QLD Time (AEST), Tuesday the 17th of December 2024Platform: ZoomRegistration: Please register here to buy tickets and receive the zoom linkCost: $10 + Eventbrite ticketing fee (total: AU$11.73)What will be included in this webinar:What dementia isWhat a diagnosis of dementia means for a person with dementia and those close to themWhat can be done to make the journey with dementia as manageable as possibleQ&A with Laura / time for open discussionConnect with Coral Wilkinson: 

Psychiatrist Dr Kailas Roberts helps us understand what dementia is and how it is diagnosed. He discusses the four most common dementia diagnoses and how they commonly present. He talks about other health conditions that may mimic early-stage dementia. Learn about what tests are done to diagnose dementia, medication that may improve symptoms, and strategies to help maintain cognitive function, even after a diagnosis of dementia.In this episode: Dementia is an umbrella term for a problem with cognition that causes impairment of daily functionThe four main dementia diagnoses and how each one presentsOther health conditions that may look like an emerging dementiaThe steps in making a diagnosis of dementiaDifferent tests that are done to confirm a dementia diagnosisThe benefits of a team of allied health providers to support the person after diagnosisMedications that may help improve cognition in Alzheimer’s diseaseTreating other conditions as wellStrategies that people can use to maintain cognitive function after diagnosisResources mentioned:Book: Mind Your Brain - The Essential Australian Guide to Dementia. Dementia AustraliaDementia Support AustraliaForward With DementiaConnect with Dr Kailas Roberts:Website       Your Brain in Mind | Brisbane | Dementia Support & DiagnosisLinkedIn:      Kailas Roberts - Your Brain in Mind cognitive optimisation clinic | LinkedInConnect with Coral Wilkinson: Instagram  LinkedIn  Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:See Me ACN websiteFacebook Instagram  More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community....

As Dad’s end of life approached, we worked together as a family to keep Dad comfortable and safe. We had great support from Coral’s GP, Dad’s geriatrician, and Dad's amazing carer, Kath.Those last days were an emotional rollercoaster but from them we have some very special memories. Dad kept surprising us, right up until he took his last breath.This is our story of supporting Dad to die at home. We want you to know that how you choose to support a loved one as they approach their end of life is entirely your choice. Whatever you decide to do, it’s okay.In this episode: The functional gains Dad made on transition care were short lived Dad started to decline again as he approached his end of lifeCoral moved Dad to palliation with the support of her GP and Dad’s geriatricianThe changes that made us realise Dad was approaching his end of lifeThe emotional rollercoaster of Dad’s last daysManaging pain and keeping Dad comfortableRemembering the special storiesDad’s emotional connection to musicWhen dad took his last breathHow you choose to support a loved one at their end of life is very individual and whatever you do, it’s okayResources mentioned:Let’s Talk ConsultationRelated episodes:Episode 25 – Dad’s diagnosis of dementiaEpisode 27 – After Dad’s diagnosis of dementiaEpisode 28 – Bringing Dad home from hospitalConnect with Coral Wilkinson: Instagram  LinkedIn  Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:See Me ACN websiteFacebook Instagram  More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting...

Dad had four strokes in 2017, his last year with us. He developed delirium after each stroke. Dad did not recover so well after the fourth stroke and his needs were high. We discuss what that looked like for us from a caring role, and what aged care programs we were able to access to support us to bring Dad home from hospital.Our priority was Dad's quality of life. We were in the very fortunate position of having strong family support and some extra money that allowed us to meet Dad's care needs at home.In this episode: Dad’s high care needs after his fourth strokeDad had to regain enough function to be able to come homeAdvocating for Dad when he was unable to speakStaying with Dad at the hospitalHow we prepared for Dad’s dischargeWhy we didn’t want Dad to go to an aged care facilityTransition Care Program (TCP) and how we used it to get Dad homeHigh care needs don’t always mean moving someone to a residential aged care facilityCaring for a loved one with high needs at home can be difficult but if a family wants to do this, they should be supported to do soPrioritising Dad’s quality of lifeWe paid for a private carer and did as much as we could ourselves to help meet Dad’s needs as his package funding wasn’t enoughResources mentioned:Let’s Talk ConsultationRelated episodes:Episode 25 – Dad’s diagnosis of dementiaEpisode 27 – After Dad’s diagnosis of dementiaConnect with Coral Wilkinson: Instagram  LinkedIn  Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:See Me ACN websiteFacebook Instagram  More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families...

What did Dad’s diagnosis of dementia mean for him and for us, his family? We’ll discuss the challenges Dad faced in the months and years after he was diagnosed and what we did to support him.Mum’s care for Dad was incredible and we made sure we supported her as well, so that she could continue to care for Dad.Focusing on what we could influence and keeping Dad well and content was key to looking after Dad.In this episode: The difficult conversations with MumAricept improved Dad’s cognition but there would be no miracle cureWe focused on what we could influence – keeping Dad well and contentDelirium and it’s causesSupporting MumSundowningThe home care package helped us support Dad but wasn’t enough to meet Dad’s needsThe difficulty when Dad developed delirium several timesManaging Dad’s deliriumResources mentioned:Let’s Talk Consultation Related episodes: Episode 25 – Dad’s diagnosis of dementiaConnect with Coral Wilkinson: Instagram  LinkedIn  Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:See Me ACN websiteFacebook Instagram  More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home. We'll help you makes sense of Australia’s aged care system and bring you topics related to ageing as well. Legal, financial, health, forward planning and more. Your Aged Care Compass will guide you clearly and compassionately to the right support at the right time for your ageing parents and loved ones. Like what you hear? Please leave us a rating and review. We’d love you to share this podcast with any friends or family who have older loved ones.

We're asked so many questions in the course of our work. Our first Ask Me Anything podcast was unbelievably popular, so we’re devoting one episode a month to answering your questions.Send your questions to us and we’ll answer as many as possible during these Ask Me Anything episodes.In this episode: Home care package funds for commercially prepared mealsBasic daily fee vs income tested feeDoes home care package funding affect the aged pension?Grandfathering under the new Support at Home programWhy can’t I claim the cost of a visit to my GP from my home care package?Do I need a GP letter to get allied health services through my home care package?The dementia and cognition supplementService agreements for workers with home care providersWhat are some of the signs my parents might need help?My Aged Care told me someone would contact me. What does that mean? Resources mentioned:Let’s Talk ConsultationBlog - When should I contact My Aged Care?Blog – What is the dementia and cognition supplement?Screening for the dementia and cognition supplementConnect with Coral Wilkinson: Instagram  LinkedIn  Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:See Me ACN websiteFacebook Instagram  More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home. We'll help you makes sense of Australia’s aged care system and bring you topics related to ageing as well. Legal, financial, health, forward planning and more. Your Aged...

Today we chat about our own father’s diagnosis of dementia and how it came about. Coral was aware that things were changing with Dad and something wasn’t quite right. She started the process of getting a geriatrician involved. Dad moved through diagnoses of depression to mild cognitive impairment to dementia.Coral was pushed into explaining the diagnosis to Mum and Dad because the geriatrician decided not to tell them. This meant Coral had to take on the clinical role and tell Mum and Dad what was happening and what to expect. It changed how Mum reacted and put undue pressure on Coral. In this episode: Depression or dementia?A diagnosis of dementia takes timeWhat is mild cognitive impairment (MCI)?The geriatrician didn’t tell Mum and Dad about Dad’s dementia diagnosisCoral had to explain Dad’s diagnosis to Mum and DadWhy the geriatrician didn’t tell Mum and Dad the diagnosisMum’s reaction to the situation and her struggle to understand why she wasn’t toldDad’s response to medicationHow this experience changed Coral’s approach to her workCoral believes that the older person and their family need to know so they can educate themselves and be prepared for what’s aheadResources mentioned:Let's Talk ConsultationDementia Australia - Understanding dementia University of Tasmania – Understanding dementia online course Connect with Coral Wilkinson: Instagram  LinkedIn  Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:See Me ACN websiteFacebook Instagram  More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business. Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home. We'll help you makes sense of Australia’s aged...

The support plan is the document that is given after a person has been assessed by either the Regional Assessment Service (RAS) or the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT).When a person is assigned their home care package (HCP), they sign up with a provider. The care plan is the document that is drawn up with the home care provider. This guides what services and support a person will receive from their HCP.These two different plans are both important. They are used at different times for a person’s support at home. We chat about what they are and when they are used. You’ll learn about the information that is needed for each. This information affects the level of aged care support you receive.In this episode:What is a support plan?The information in a support planRecommendations in a support planWhat is a care plan?Plans are reviewed as needed. They are not “set and forget”.Care plans should be reviewed at least yearlyWho asks for a support plan review or a care plan review?Give complete detail at any assessments. Do not be stoicTelling your provider about your health issuesWho gives information for a support plan or care plan?The information in a care plan mattersWhat information do I give when asking for a support plan review?  Resources mentioned:Blog - What's the difference between a support plan and a care plan?Blog – What's the difference between CHSP and HCPBlog – What’s the difference between a RAS and an ACAT assessment?Clinical review serviceLet's Talk ConsultationRelated Episodes:Episode 4: How Do I Get Help At Home?Episode 7: Home Care PackagesEpisode 8: How To Prepare For AssessmentsConnect with Coral Wilkinson: Instagram  LinkedIn  Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:See Me ACN websiteFacebook Instagram  More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me...