Katherine Gregory, who described the complexities of the aged care system during last year’s Hackathon faced those challenges once more. She had already guided it once before for her father. Her story exemplifies the immense emotional and logistical burdens families face when trying to get their family members the care they need. Looking back on her original journey, Gregory argues that aged care costs need to be considered like housing costs. She points out that there are other daily costs needed to provide care the right way.
Her story started with her father’s health scare. Having lost his voice and been resigned to a debilitating existence after undergoing a laryngectomy as treatment for advanced throat cancer, he now had hope. This alarming reality prompted Gregory to search for a home care package for her father. She was able to get one a full two and a half years after his surgery. She soon understood that after a few falls at home, they required constant care. This realization caused her to reflect on their circumstances.
Besides her father’s care, Gregory had to help with her mother, who has dementia. Only a year ago, her mother was able to rejoice at her birthday with ecstatic boogies. Today, the story literally could not be more different. After a long rehabilitation stay, Gregory spent months trying to set up care for her mother. She managed not only private but commonwealth funded CHSP, managing all aspects of their care.
Understanding Aged Care Costs
Katherine Gregory comes to understand that treating aged care costs like capital gains from home ownership is unfair. As with any house, the cost of maintaining it only goes up with time. This lens served her well when focusing on the financial realities of getting care for her parents.
Aged care advisor Jim Moraitis underlines the need for due diligence in that buy. Everything is negotiable,” he said, having guided countless families through the same process. His advice underscores just how important it is for families to seek out information and explore their options. They must be informed about the fiscal implications of their decisions.
In a system where access can change on a moment’s notice, Gregory’s story is emblematic of the panic many families experience when trying to find care. “So you were originally told no, there’s no availability. Then you’ll get a call out of the blue in a few weeks saying, ‘Hey, one’s just popped up, take it now or lose it,’” Moraitis explained. Families with high-needs children already face heightened stress from health issues—this reality adds another layer.
Gregory was adept at moving through these processes. She had to adjust every time to the emotional drain that her father’s illness had on their family dynamic. Juggling her full-time work life, the demands of two growing children, and the basic needs of elderly parents was a struggle that soon became untenable.
The Impact of New Legislation
The new Aged Care Act comes into effect on November 1. Gregory anticipates a significant learning curve, as she gets ready for its rollout. With the current system, families face an average wait of nine months – at least – for aged care services. The changes coming are indeed a positive step toward cutting this wait time down to three months, but will bring with them new financial models.
By staying in the new system, participants may be required to have a greater share of responsibility for their daily living and independence supports. Co-payments will be between 5 percent and 50 percent based on their income and assets. This change could further add to the stress of families as they juggle costs on the other end while still trying to provide quality care.
Kyra-Bae Snell, an aged care consultant, expressed optimism about the impact of the new legislation. “You’ll have a lot more control over how the money is spent and it will be more cost-effective under Support at Home than it ever was,” she stated. It points to a notable silver lining in a fraught, multidimensional environment of aged care.
As families like Gregory’s prepare for these changes, they must grapple with the reality of increased costs alongside their loved ones’ care needs. The emotional burden can be crushing, and adapting to these changes takes careful hard work as well as emotional grit.
The Ongoing Journey
Katherine Gregory’s experience of the aged care system is one filled with head and heart. It further stresses the growing financial burden that will befall women who are tasked with caring for older parents. She has taken away some important lessons from her time spent with the feds. The trip isn’t over, and new obstacles will always emerge.
With her mother’s condition requiring constant attention and her father’s situation still precarious, Gregory remains committed to ensuring both receive the best possible care. Ogugua’s initiative and intuition in anticipating the need for an accessible home for her mother exemplifies her commitment to creating a home where her family can thrive.
As she looks back on her journey, she knows just how critical the support of her community was in helping her get through those tough times. “We see when a personal care worker comes into the home and reports like a bruise or a skin integrity issue, then that’s raised with the care manager,” Kyra-Bae Snell added. This combined approach between all caregivers’ hands can result in timely interventions and greater impacts for people who need them.
