Where’s Care?

06 Feb Where’s Care?

Dear Here to Help,
My elderly parents have been living at home, supported by in-home care, for many years. Recently, I have noticed that Dad’s Parkinson’s has degenerated badly. Both parents’ health has declined to the point that it is dangerous for Mum to continue as Dad’s primary carer. When I approached nursing homes, they say they cannot take Dad without a Centrelink statement of assets. Centrelink told me the statement takes 6 months to prepare. But it’s not safe for Mum to continue as Dad’s primary carer for that long. I feel like I’m caught in a dystopian alternative reality. Help!

Thank you for your query.

It can certainly be challenging to deal with red tape around loved ones’ increasing poor health. Unfortunately, the system doesn’t always work as we would like it to. Just like everyone else, people who work inside the health and aged care systems have competing priorities to manage and they can’t always keep on top of all the issues in their domain.

You are best placed to understand the health issues and needs of people in your care. This means that it is important to stay on top of issues and – dare I say it – follow-up regularly with the relevant authorities until you get the appropriate response.

For urgent cases, there are always ways to “fast track” processes.
(1) Nursing homes may be able to take your father as a respite patient from time to time.
(2) If you can make the time to physically attend a Centrelink office and explain the situation to the staff member, they can often provide the kind of tailored advice that a website or call centre can’t give. A good nursing home will also understand the system – as they have to deal with it every day – and might be able to help you with the process.
(3) Your family GP can also help fast track the system.
(4) Finally, if your dad’s carer cannot safely handle his behavioural issues, you can present to emergency and they can assess him. Once he is “inside” the system, processes do run faster.

In all these “fast track” solutions, it will be important for you to stay on top of things and regularly check in with the various organisations involved, to avoid falling in the gap where everyone is waiting for someone else to initiate the next step.

As in so many cases, it is always worthwhile to plan for the worst and hope for the best, as far in advance as possible. You may never need to activate your plan, but the support mechanisms will be more quickly and readily available when you need them.

And finally – good luck!

This article comes from my column entitled “Here to Help” in Hunter Local, February 2023. If you have an everyday problem just begging for a simple, real world solution, send it to “Here to Help” and let’s see what we can achieve.

Elaine Abery has a closet full of great ideas and empowering solutions. She’s also the Director of Unravelling Red Tape, a company dedicated to helping everyday people, not-for-profits and companies change the world through improved decision-making and legislation.