Right at Home – providing At Home Aged Care in Cairns
Right at Home is a company that was founded in the USA in 1995. Alan Hager, a hospital administrator in Omaha, Nebraska, found that elderly patients of the hospital were sent home as soon as they were deemed stable, but without appropriate care or support in place, they never fully recovered. They may have returned home, but they did not return to health, as they were unable to care for themselves appropriately – and families were not always able to help.
From this, Right at Home was established, and now there are 500 offices across the world – in the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, China, Japan, the Netherlands and Australia.
They are an Approved Provider under the Aged Care Act, which means that they can accept government funding for the care they provide. This subsidy is payable to all Australians over 65 (50+ for Aboriginals or Torres Strait Islanders) and is accessible through the government website My Aged Care.
What Care Options are Available?
We offer several types of care, from companionship to 24-hour nursing, depending on need and budget. All our carers are matched to our clients through their skill set, personalities and interests, to ensure the best possible service.
Some of the services we provide to our clients include:
- Companionship and Socialisation
This can include transportation to appointments or shopping, socialisation visits to friends or to groups, cooking and light housekeeping, organisation, safety supervision and cognitive stimulation (through puzzles, reading or games).
This companionship can really help to stave off social isolation and improve outcomes for those with cognitive decline. By helping with organisation (shopping, visits to the bank, doctors or hairdresser), our carers give the clients a sense of purpose and support them to continue doing things they enjoy. Our carers are also able to help prepare nutritious meals that adhere to any dietary needs, whether that is just meal planning and preparation, or cooking the full meal.
This can take the form of physical assistance, like getting dressed, ambulatory assistance, getting from a bed into a chair, or wheelchair assistance. It can also be about hygiene, helping our clients to bathe/shower, administering bed baths, oral hygiene and grooming or shaving. This can also include toilet and incontinent care – something that isn’t pleasant to talk about, but important that it takes place when necessary.
We have visiting Registered Nurses and Enrolled Nurses who are able to administer medication such as tablets, insulin injections and even IV therapies. They can provide care for ostomy bags, catheters and tube feeding, as well as wound care and dressing changes. They are also, importantly, available for palliative care.
- Hospital to Home/Post-Operative Care/Transitional Care
This level of care is non-medical, and all about supporting the client to return home to a safe, clean environment after a stay in hospital. Our carers can provide medication reminders, transport to appointments, meal preparation and light cleaning, all while liaising with care providers and the family of the client to coordinate communication
- Respite Care for Family Carers
If you choose to have your elderly relative live with you and become a family carer, it can become difficult to find time for yourself. We can provide a few hours respite care on a regularly basis, so you can attend appointments, go to the hairdresser, or just generally have time to rest and recover. We know that you can’t look after your relative if you don’t have the time to look after yourself.
If you would like to discuss the options for Home Aged Care in Cairns, please do get in contact for a no cost, no obligation assessment, to see how Right at Home could help you.
Right at Home provides home care packages and support services including disability & elderly care as well as transitional home care services. Our locations cover Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Wagga Wagga, Townsville, Toowoomba, Penrith, Cairns and many more!
