'Transition' has all the subtlety of a giraffe sticking its head in where it really doesn't belong. Unfortunate perhaps, is the realisation that we all transition. Our lives are made up of interminable transitions right from infancy to old age.

Tom Lauricella for The Wall Street Journal talks about the importance of planning, when loved ones are entering the final transition of their lives. His emphasis is placed on "starting early… rather than waiting for a crisis to hit" (Lauricella, 2014). In his article When Elderly Parents Lose Their Independence: Planning Can Make the Transition Easier, Lauricella admits, "For many, initiating these kinds of discussions takes effort." This is why it is important to start early and raise the issue in all causality but maintaining a sense of calm and reasonability. What Mr Lauricella laments to suggest, is whether there are any alternatives for your family members. Must they move out or is there another option.

The notion of in-home care is an increasingly popular choice for many couples right around Australia. One of the main reasons for this is our ageing population. We are living longer and working later, sixty is the new seventy! The Australian Government, The Treasury have published a paper on Australia's Demographic Challenges. The report talks about the economic implications of an ageing population. "The number of Australians aged 65 and over is expected to increase rapidly, from around 2.5 million in 2002 to 6.2 million in 2042." What this means for retired or retiring couples is that retaining what assets they have is increasingly important. The report emphasises, "For Australians aged 85 and over, the growth is even more rapid, from around 300,000 in 2002 to 1.1 million in 2042." Selling up and moving to an old aged care facility is no longer as safe of an option. These facilities are going to end up being stretched so thin due to a high demand and a dwindling supply of resources. In-home care provides a safe and viable alternative for the future.

With a later retirement age, older Australians need the flexibility that living at home would provide. Our ageing population is going to need their independence. It is now a matter of balancing care with need. There is nothing wrong with mitigating independence as long as we do it carefully. 

Founded in 1995, Right at Home offers in-home companionship and personal care, and assistance to seniors and disabled adults who want to continue to live independently and age in their home. Right at Home Australia is your local expert for issues related to caring for your loved ones, and is dedicated to keeping you informed about home care. With no admin or subscription fees Right at Home allows you to get more care from your package or budget. ​

To find out more, please give us a call on 1300 362 609 or visit our website.