The Importance of Family and Third-Party input in Aged Care Decisions

Unfortunately, none of us can be young forever. If the time has come for you or a loved one to consider the move to aged care, the decisions involved can be stressful, as well as time consuming.

To make the best decision possible, it’s important to consider the following:

Emotional Nature of Decision

Making the right decision places an emotional burden on those involved. Many people who make the decision to move a loved one into an aged care facility report feelings of guilt – this is natural and you should expect it to some extent. So, how do we deal with these feelings?  Emotional intelligence is the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one’s emotions. Being sure to understand how you react to feelings of guilt will allow you to persevere.

Guilt is not the only emotion you will experience – depression, anxiety and stress can also occur. Whilst being emotionally intelligent, is important to remain focused – as a survival mechanism the mind naturally focuses on the negatives. Remembering the benefits to aged care facilities will help guide you in making the best decision and keep you focused on the overall objective, receiving the proper care for a loved one.

Role and Benefit of Impartial Counsel

Families often assume they are equipped to manage the decision-making process. While some people manage without, many can benefit greatly from third-party advice. Disputes are common in these situations and can impact family members quite easily, sometimes resulting in long-term strain on relationships. It’s unlikely that all members will agree on every decision; impartial counsel is an effective tool in these circumstances.

Aged care advisors can offer impartial support and guidance throughout the decision-making process. Emotionally fuelled decisions are often biased and focused on individual preferences. For instance, you might have a certain facility in mind for emotional reasons that ignore cost and other factors. Receiving counsel is the best way to make educated decisions based on available resources. 

Additional Things to Consider:

Getting everyone together for discussion is the first step in the decision-making process. The benefits include:

• A supportive family environment
• Prevention of miscommunication
• Increase in engagement and collaboration
• A shared sense of purpose

Additionally, the importance of conducting thorough research and exploration of all available options cannot be understated. Again, the advice of an independent aged care advisor will provide great assistance during this process – they will assess your situation and consider the viable alternatives.

The Morrows Aged Care Advisory team have substantial experience in helping families through the process of placing a loved one in aged care. Our approach is to consult with the whole family providing them with the information necessary to make an informed decision on the type of care required and the best way to finance their option.

We have staff that have been through the experience and empathise with families.  Our clients have found this helpful and the information provided is invaluable to their decision making.

As mentioned earlier, it’s critical that you pay mind to financial aspects. Expect aged care facilities to be costly, with most requiring Refundable Accommodation Deposits (RAD) payments. If you decide against an aged care facility and to make adjustments at home, are the measures taken going to cost more than aged care in the long run?

Family provides strength to persevere through many challenges in life, solidarity is the key to overcoming difficulties. Keeping this thought at the forefront of the decision-making process will help everyone involved. If you’re not sure where to start, reach out to the team at Morrows Aged Care Advisory.