Susan's story with Susan Day

Your Aged Care Compass

Susan and her siblings supported their parents as they aged. When the time came to access formal support, Susan discovered how confusing the process was and how long it took to get services.

Susan discusses what she noticed between the two different assessment services and the outcomes. When it was time to sign up with a package provider, Susan researched the management option that suited her best.

She talks about her journey and what she learned along the way. She realised that in not understanding the system, her parents waited longer for help.

In this episode:

• When Susan knew to seek help
• Making the referral to My Aged Care
• The lengthy time they waited for help
• Susan’s confusion and frustration trying to get services
• The package management option Susan chose
• Pros and cons of self-management
• Sourcing workers
• Buying equipment under the home care package
• Susan’s tips for helping older loved ones to manage a home care package
• Things to consider when getting a loved one into the aged care system
• Being stoic works against you in an assessment

Resources Mentioned:

• Coral's book
• Blog - What is My Aged Care?
• Blog - When should I contact My Aged Care?
• Blog - What's the difference between a RAS and an ACAT assessment?
• Let's Talk Consultation

Related Episodes:

• Episode 3: Have I been assessed by My Aged Care?
• Episode 4: How do I get help at home?

Connect with Coral Wilkinson:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Guiding you through My Aged Care | SeeMeACN website

More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast:

Are you supporting an older loved one at home and ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is aimed at anyone who is caring for an older loved one who still lives at home and is wondering what support is available to them.

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 now 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. We reached a point however, of needing extra support and we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well, we knew what programs could assist us and our parents.

This podcast, Your Aged Care Compass, brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our own ageing parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home.

We will help you makes sense of Australia’s aged care system, from your first contact with My Aged Care through to the different funding streams and assessment workforces, management options for home care packages and extra funding that people might be eligible for.

There's so much more. Topics relating to dementia and legal and financial considerations will be covered, as well as real life stories of where it went wrong for people and how we guided them to get it right.

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.