Most older Aussies prefer home care over a nursing home

According to a recent study by McCrindle, nearly 90% of Australians aged 50 and over said they’d prefer to live out their days in their own home, even though most admitted to not having given much thought to what support they’d need in order to do so. ⁱ

We look at some of the findings that came out of the research as well as what aged care options are available so that you might be more informed around what avenues are available to you and your loved ones.

If you would like to discuss your options and how you might manage it from a financial perspective, please get in touch.

[ninja_form id=37]

Preparation and planning are lacking

In a national survey of more than 1,000 Aussies aged 50 and over, responses revealed the following: ⁱ

46% of older Aussies haven’t discussed their wishes around their future care with anyone.
75% haven’t taken any steps to ensure they’ll receive their preferred means of future care.
Around 40% aren’t confident they or the government will be able to sufficiently fund their care needs, with only 9% having a secure financial or savings plan in place.
30% have been involved in organising care for a person in the past, but admit they had to make decisions quickly and with limited information.

Most older Aussies inline 2

Why conversations need to be had

Today there are more than 3.8 million Australians aged 65 and older (compared to 1.7 million 30 years ago), with that number expected to increase to 7.5 million in three decade’s time. ⁱ

Australia’s ageing population indicates that it’s not just older people who need to prepare for future aged care needs, but all Australians, who need to talk to their families, while prioritising finances and ensuring they’re informed about the services available.

In-home care the fastest growing sector

Over a ten-year period, the number of people receiving aged care in Australia grew from 189,000 to 249,000, with in-home care the fastest growing sector within the care industry, outperforming growth in residential care by five to one. ⁱ

Staying at home is a priority for many older Australians, with 74% indicating they’d likely use in-home care services and 82% saying they’d be prepared to pay for such services to live at home for longer. ⁱ

With 33% of older Aussies not aware that the government funs certain in-home care services, the research highlighted that there was a need for more awareness aged care support. ⁱ

Aged care options available

More than 50% of Aussies over the age of 45 have previously or are currently dealing with aged care services for themselves, or on someone else’s behalf, which is why considering your options in aged care earlier rather than later could provide you or a loved one with greater flexibility. ⁱ

Each aged care service available in Australia has eligibility criteria and an assessment process which can be organised through the government’s My Aged Care initiative.

Keep in mind that the costs of different aged care services vary and may depend on income and assets, as assessed by the Department of Human Services or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Most older Aussies inline

Help in your own home

If you are generally able to manage, but require some assistance, there are various home-care packages available that may help with things such as:

getting dressed,
catching transport,
cooking,
making modifications to your home, as well as a range of other things.

Short-term help

After-hospital (transition) care – If you’ve been in hospital but need assistance while you recover, this type of service can be provided in your own home or ‘live-in’ setting.

Short-term restorative care – This provides a range of services to help prevent or slow down difficulties with completing everyday tasks. It aims to delay or reverse the need to enter long-term care.

Respite care – This service provides support for you and your primary carer when your carer has other duties to attend to, or when they’re on holiday.

Residential aged care

This is where you live in full-service residences and receive ongoing care and support. If it’s the best option for you, it’s a good idea to research and visit several homes to find the right place for you.

i https://mccrindle.com.au/insights/blog/older- australians-not-prepared-for-their-future-age-care/

Get in touch with us, we can help you map out your coming years and build a financial plan that models out your cash flow needs in line with the things that are most important to you.

[ninja_form id=41]

What you need to know

This information is provided by Invest Blue Pty Ltd (ABN 91 100 874 744). The information contained in this article is of general nature only and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person. Therefore, before making any decision, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice with regards to those matters and seek personal financial, tax and/or legal advice prior to acting on this information. Read our Financial Services Guide for information about our services, including the fees and other benefits that AMP companies and their representatives may receive in relations to products and services provided to you.