• At Christmas

    At Christmas

    At this time of year, we look forward to catching up with family and friends, to enjoy sharing time and hospitality.

    However, the festive season can also bring mixed feelings, particularly for people who are lonely and socially isolated.

    Be proactive in making contact with family members or significant others who may be frail, or less mobile, than in their younger years, and who you may not see very often. Make time for a simple visit or phone call – it can make the world of difference.

    Over the festive season, whilst spending time together, you may notice a deterioration in the health of older family members. They may be finding it difficult to manage – their movements may be slower, in pain, or clearly having difficulty in managing tasks around the house. It may be time to discuss support options with them and investigate assistance to sustain their independence and quality of life. This can be a hard but very important discussion.

    Sometimes, just a little support can go a long way to assist in maintaining independence, and potentially avoiding a major health crisis or decline. It’s also important to have this discussion together: your family member may already have considered home support or heard about services.

    There are many options of care and support available, from short term assistance to ongoing support, from privately funded to government subsidised services. Not everyone will be eligible for government subsidised services, and some people may choose to ‘top up’ funded services with private support as they choose.

    Services can assist people to maintain their health and capacity to manage around their home; to make or maintain family and social connections, or to keep up interests and hobbies. They may also decide to try something new to improve their quality of life or regain lost capability.

    Similarly, respite support for the primary family carer, either in the community or in a residential aged care home, can offer invaluable support for them to have a break and ‘recharge.’

    The Government’s My Aged Care website (myagedcare.gov.au) is the gateway to find out about service options and eligibility. Alternatively, call the contact centre on 1800 200 422.

    Christmas is a time to connect with our neighbours, friends and family and share the festive spirit. Reach out to others. Small gestures can mean a lot.

    Opinion piece by Darren Birbeck
    Chief Executive Officer
    Resthaven Incorporated