You’re a growing group of special individuals aka superheroes known as the “sandwich generation” – caught between supporting two generations at once:

• Children or young adult dependants, and
• Ageing parents who may now require care and support.

This transition happens gradually. Mum may begin forgetting appointments. Dad may struggle with shopping, cooking, or getting to the doctor. What starts as helping “here and there” can quickly become overwhelming.

 

The good news is that support is available – and you do not have to navigate it alone.

Signs Your Ageing Parent May Need Support

It’s often the adult children who first notice subtle changes, including:

• Increased forgetfulness
• Reduced mobility or falls
• Difficulty managing medications
• Poor nutrition or unopened food
• Withdrawal from social activities
• Household tasks becoming difficult
• Personal care concerns
• Increased hospital visits

Mum or dad may want to remain independent and continue living at home for as long as possible, and Support at Home can make this possible while also reducing stress on you and the family.

What is Support at Home?

The Australian Government is continuing to reform aged care services to help older Australians access more flexible support in their homes through programs connected with My Aged Care.

Support at Home services can assist your elderly parents with:

• Personal care
• Domestic assistance
• Nursing support
• Allied health services
• Social support
• Meal preparation
• Transport
• Home modifications
• Assistive technology
• Respite services

These services are designed to help your elderly parents maintain safety, independence, and quality of life at home.

How CBH can Help

Chris Barnard Health  (CBH) supports the elderly and their families through every stage of the aged care journey.

We want to help you understand:

• What support is available
• Whether your parent/s is eligible
• How funding works
• What steps to take first and the processing period

We can help simplify this process by:

• Explaining available home care and Support at Home options
• Assisting you to understand government-funded services
• Coordinating care and supports
• Providing allied health and in-home support services
• Supporting the elderly to remain safely at home
• Helping reduce stress on family caregivers

It’s important to note that “support” is not only for the older person – it also helps relieve pressure on you – giving you the space to balance work, parenting, and caregiving responsibilities.

 

You may be feeling pressure to “manage everything themselves”, but caring for ageing parents is not something you need to navigate alone.

The earlier support is introduced, the better the outcomes are for the older person/s, their families and their overall wellbeing and independence in the long run.

Having the right support team in place can provide reassurance, reduce your stress, and help you and your family focus on spending meaningful time together rather than managing care alone.

If you are noticing changes in an ageing parent, now may be the right time to start the conversation and explore what support is available.

Feel free to reach out to CBH and together we can figure out the best course of action for your family.