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Common questions on Where to start

  ACAT assessments
  1. Can I choose what aged care home I go into or does the ACAT decide this for me?
  2. Can I have someone with me while I'm having my ACAT assessment?
  3. Can the ACAT recommend a good aged care home?
  4. Do I need an assessment for all types of home care?
  5. Do I need an assessment?
  6. Do I need to consider residential aged care?
  7. How do I arrange for an ACAT assessment?
  8. How long will my ACAT assessment last?
  9. How many people will visit me to do the ACAT assessment?
  10. I do not agree with the ACAT assessment of my relative. What can I do?
  11. I don't want to talk to anyone about the things I can't do. Why do I have to have an ACAT assessment?
  12. Is there a cost associated with appealing against the ACAT assessment or their recommendations?
  13. What do I have to do to get ready for an ACAT assessment?
  14. What if I'm not sure whether I need to move to an aged care home?
  15. What is an ACAT Assessment and why do I need one?
  16. What sorts of things do the ACAT people assess? What questions do they ask?

Access and eligibility
  1. Can I just move into an aged care home when I feel I'm ready?
  2. Do I need to consider residential aged care?
  3. How can I find out about programs to help me care for someone?
  4. How do I know if I 'm eligible for any of these programs?
  5. I am not ready to go into care but I would like to find out more about what is involved in entering into aged care for future reference. Where would be the best place to obtain this sort of information?
  6. My aunt was taken to hospital with a minor infection. They say at her age she should be in a home, although she has been managing quite well. She does not want to go into a home. What can we do?
  7. What assistance is available as people get older?
  8. What happens if I suddenly get sick?
  9. What if I'm not sure whether I need to move to an aged care home?
  10. Who makes the decision whether I could receive community care at home or need to go into an aged care home?

Active ageing
  1. I'm fit enough physically, but now that I have retired the days seem to drag on and I feel I am getting mentally sluggish.
  2. Why should I have an influenza vaccination every year?

Aged care homes
  1. Can I just move into an aged care home when I feel I'm ready?
  2. Do I need to consider residential aged care?
  3. I am not ready to go into care but I would like to find out more about what is involved in entering into aged care for future reference. Where would be the best place to obtain this sort of information?
  4. My aunt was taken to hospital with a minor infection. They say at her age she should be in a home, although she has been managing quite well. She does not want to go into a home. What can we do?
  5. My mother's dementia has become much worse recently and my father, who is her main carer, can no longer look after her. She has been assessed as needing high-level care in a home with facilities for people with dementia. But I don't know where to start and the situation is urgent. What can I do?
  6. My mother is now a war widow and is already in an aged care home. Do her entitlements change and who does she need to tell? Will DVA contact her?
  7. What assistance is available as people get older?
  8. What happens if I can't afford to pay my fees once I'm in an Aged Care home?
  9. What is a hospice?
  10. What types of care are available?
  11. Who makes the decision whether I could receive community care at home or need to go into an aged care home?

Allied health care, aids and equipment
  1. How would I know if the person I care for would benefit from allied health support?
  2. I have a teletypewriter but my sister does not. How can I ring her if I need to?
  3. I live alone and am getting older. My stove is worn out and I need a new one, but I need help to understand the technology they talk about in the shops. Is there someone who can help me?
  4. Mum has had a walking frame for a few years now. It needs to have the brakes adjusted. How can I find out where to get the walking frame 'serviced'?
  5. We would like to get a special desk that can be adjusted to accommodate a wheelchair. Where can I find out about these?
  6. Where can I get financial assistance for continence management equipment?

Carers
  1. How can I find out about programs to help me care for someone?
  2. I'm tired all the time looking after my uncle. What can I do?
  3. My elderly mother has come to live with me on my farm. She needs help with showering, dressing and other personal care. I am away from the house most of the day - can we get help with these things even though we are a few hours drive from the nearest town?
  4. What if I can no longer cope with being a carer?
  5. What payments are available for carers?

Community care
  1. Do we have to pay for Home and Community Care services?
  2. How can I tell which of these programs are best suited to my needs? Is there someone who can help me?
  3. I'm not sure that I will be able to afford any form of care to assist me in my home. What can I do?
  4. I am a Torres Strait Islander person and I have recently moved to a regional town in Queensland. Can I still get help through HACC or is it only for regional and remote areas?
  5. I don't drive and I'm finding it increasingly difficult to get on the bus. How will I be able to do my banking and shopping, especially for clothing and larger items, not just groceries?
  6. I have complex chronic health problems. Most of the time I am reasonably well and manage at home. How can I get looked after at home at the times I am unwell?
  7. I live alone and am getting older. My stove is worn out and I need a new one, but I need help to understand the technology they talk about in the shops. Is there someone who can help me?
  8. I think that I need more help to be able to stay at home than the Home and Community Care program seems to offer. Is there more help?
  9. Mum is a war widow. She can't get on buses any more, and I live 600 kms away. How is she going to get to her medical appointments?
  10. Mum lives in a rural area. How can I get a podiatrist for her?
  11. My elderly mother has come to live with me on my farm. She needs help with showering, dressing and other personal care. I am away from the house most of the day - can we get help with these things even though we are a few hours drive from the nearest town?
  12. What are community care services?
  13. What assistance is available as people get older?
  14. What sort of help can I expect to receive to help me stay at home?
  15. What types of care are available?
  16. Who arranges in-home respite? How can I get it?
  17. Who makes the decision whether I could receive community care at home or need to go into an aged care home?

Continence management
  1. Where can I get financial assistance for continence management equipment?

Cultural and identified needs
  1. Are there counselling services for veterans?
  2. Are there special services for veterans?
  3. I'm an Aboriginal person - is there a palliative care program that would suit me?
  4. I am a Torres Strait Islander person and I have recently moved to a regional town in Queensland. Can I still get help through HACC or is it only for regional and remote areas?
  5. Is end-of-life care available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
  6. Mum is a war widow. She can't get on buses any more, and I live 600 kms away. How is she going to get to her medical appointments?
  7. My mother is now a war widow and is already in an aged care home. Do her entitlements change and who does she need to tell? Will DVA contact her?
  8. What aged care support is available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
  9. What help is there for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
  10. What is the meaning of a war widow or widower?

Culturally and linguistically diverse
  1. My grandmother can't speak English and I have to go to hospital for an operation. Is there somewhere that she can have respite care where she can be understood? How can I find it?
  2. My mother is of a non-English speaking background and is having trouble getting the staff at the home to understand her needs and preferences. How can I help her?

Fees and costs
  1. Do we have to pay for Home and Community Care services?
  2. I'm not sure that I will be able to afford any form of care to assist me in my home. What can I do?
  3. I'm not sure that I will be able to afford any form of care. What can I do?
  4. What happens if I can't afford to pay my fees once I'm in an Aged Care home?
  5. Who has to pay for mum's Webster packs?
  6. Will I have to pay for a Home and Community Care service?

Financial and legal
  1. I know from arranging my husband's funeral that there are papers and things you have to have after someone dies. I want to get these ready for when I die. Where can I find a list of what I need?
  2. I need financial advice to sort out my affairs. Is there someone who can help me?

For carers
  1. What if my carer or I need a break?

Health conditions
  1. I'm worried about Mum. She is losing her sense of perspective and fretting excessively about things she can't influence, like international events. What can I do?
  2. I have complex chronic health problems. Most of the time I am reasonably well and manage at home. How can I get looked after at home at the times I am unwell?
  3. I have several chronic health problems, with quite complex medication. My medication is in a Webster pack, but I often drop pills or leave them in the pack by accident. What help can I get with this?
  4. Is incontinence more common in women or men?
  5. Mum lives alone. She manages well, but I'm worried that she might fall and need help. What can I do?
  6. My mother's dementia has become much worse recently and my father, who is her main carer, can no longer look after her. She has been assessed as needing high-level care in a home with facilities for people with dementia. But I don't know where to start and the situation is urgent. What can I do?
  7. Palliative care - if Mum is in pain, can it be eased?
  8. Where can I get financial assistance for continence management equipment?
  9. Where can I get more information about Falls Prevention?
  10. Who should I call about continence management?

High-level care
  1. My mother's dementia has become much worse recently and my father, who is her main carer, can no longer look after her. She has been assessed as needing high-level care in a home with facilities for people with dementia. But I don't know where to start and the situation is urgent. What can I do?

Home modifications and maintenance
  1. Mum uses a walking frame now. Is there help that I can get to make changes at home so she can move around more easily?

Medications
  1. I have several chronic health problems, with quite complex medication. My medication is in a Webster pack, but I often drop pills or leave them in the pack by accident. What help can I get with this?

Mental health
  1. Are mental illnesses incurable and lifelong?
  2. Are people with a mental illness usually dangerous?
  3. I'm fit enough physically, but now that I have retired the days seem to drag on and I feel I am getting mentally sluggish.
  4. I'm worried about Mum. She is losing her sense of perspective and fretting excessively about things she can't influence, like international events. What can I do?
  5. Where can I find more information about depression?

Short-term care
  1. Am I eligible for Transition Care?
  2. How long does Transition Care last?
  3. I'm tired all the time looking after my uncle. What can I do?
  4. I am about to be discharged from hospital and need some additional support to fully recover. Who can help?
  5. My aunt was taken to hospital with a minor infection. They say at her age she should be in a home, although she has been managing quite well. She does not want to go into a home. What can we do?
  6. My grandmother can't speak English and I have to go to hospital for an operation. Is there somewhere that she can have respite care where she can be understood? How can I find it?
  7. The doctor says I am ready to leave hospital, but I'm not sure I'll be able cope at home immediately. What can I do?
  8. What happens if I suddenly get sick?
  9. What if my carer or I need a break?
  10. Who arranges in-home respite? How can I get it?

Standards and complaints
  1. I'm not confident of talking with people when it might be a difficult or complex conversation. Is there anyone who can support me if I have a concern about an aged care home?
  2. I do not agree with the ACAT assessment of my relative. What can I do?
  3. I feel like the home doesn't respect my rights. What can I do?
  4. I have talked to the home about my concerns and nothing has changed. What can I do?
  5. Is there a cost associated with appealing against the ACAT assessment or their recommendations?
  6. Once I send an application form to a home, how long will they keep it on their records?
  7. The home has rung to say I need to buy a helmet for mum to wear as she is continually having falls. I don't know whether this is good practice or not - how can I get more information and find out if the home is doing the right thing?

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