You, or a loved one, may have received approval from the Aged Care Assessment Team to start looking for an aged care home, or perhaps you’re looking into your options now for when the time comes that you need to transition into a home.
We understand there’s a lot to consider, so here’s our guide to choosing the right residential aged care home for you.
Browse your options
With so many homes available, finding the right one for you can be tricky. The ‘Find a provider’ tool on the My Aged Care website is a good starting point to narrow down your choices.
Some of the things to consider when looking around include:
- Are you looking for a single or shared room?
- Is there a certain cultural or religious environment you’d prefer?
- Is there a language other than English that you feel more comfortable speaking?
- Do you require specialised support due to medical or social circumstances?
- Is there availability at this home currently?
Look for experience
When choosing a residential aged care provider, it’s important to look for experience. Years of service, consistency of high-quality and holistic care, and a deep understanding of the needs of the people they serve are hallmarks of a trustworthy provider.
Anglicare Southern Queensland has been supporting Queenslanders for more than 150 years. With a long history in nursing and clinical care, we’re proud to, again, have been voted Australia’s most trusted brand in residential aged care.
Deciding whether it’s the right fit for you
How do you know what to look for when it comes to choosing the right home for you?
Seeing the home and meeting the staff, in person, is always the best way to know what living there could be like.
When you’re ready to tour the home, be prepared with a list of questions you’d like to ask. My Aged Care provides a list of questions to get you started, but have a think about what is important to you and what else you’d like to know about your potential provider.
If you can, bring a friend or family member with you for support and a second opinion. If you’re not sure about something, it’s okay to ask more questions and take your time to really consider your options.
Tour checklist
We all have individual needs and different homes may be able to cater to them better than others.
Prepare a checklist of the services you, or your loved one, needs. Think honestly about what you’re struggling with and speak to providers to see if they offer the right service solutions for your needs.
When you’re on the tour of the home, here are some things to consider:
- Does your guide greet residents along the way by name?
- Do the residents look happy and engaged? Do the staff?
- Are the chairs in the common areas comfortable? What kind of entertainment is offered in the living spaces (television, the day’s newspapers, magazines, board games, puzzles) – and do they interest you?
- Are the rooms and common areas clean and well-maintained?
- Are all the meals cooked fresh on-site?
- What nursing, allied health, other services are on-site and how often are they available?
- Are the lawns and gardens well-maintained? Are there outdoor areas where you can relax?
- What are the visiting hours like for my family and friends?
- Are there any set meal arrangements in place (meal-times, seating, guests, dietary requirements, alcohol)?
- Are there on-site activities?
- Are day trips or outings on offer?
- Is there on-site transport available for trips to visit the shopping centre or friends, for example?
- What additional costs are involved?
Make an application
We are here to help you through the process
We understand that there’s a lot to consider when you move into a residential aged care community. We would love to show you around an Anglicare Southern Queensland. Residential Aged Care Home near you. Contact 1300 610 610 or email [email protected] to arrange a tour.
Contact us today about help at home support