How to Access Aged Care
Practical guidance for Australia and the United States
Create My Care Plan
Use the app to create a care plan in 60 seconds. Answer five simple questions to get practical next steps for yourself or someone you support. Free, with no account needed.
General Resources
Explore practical support and prepare questions for your next conversation. Use our current planning tools alongside the external resources below.
Uber
Compare transport options by service area, booking method, assistance offered and total cost. Confirm current phone-booking arrangements directly rather than relying on an old promotional announcement.
Healthy Meal Planning
Plan food support around the person’s preferences, shopping and cooking arrangements. Ask an appropriate professional about individual dietary or swallowing needs.
Participating in Social Activities
Choose activities the person enjoys. Check transport, access, cost and whether a companion can attend before arranging an outing.
Managing Medications
Prepare a current medicine list and questions for your pharmacist or prescribing clinician. Ask about instructions, side effects and managing supplies; do not change medicines based on a general website article.
Menopause
Use specialist information to prepare questions about symptoms and available care. Discuss personal treatment choices with an appropriate health professional.
Eye care and older adults
Ask an eye-care professional about changes you have noticed, examinations and suitable support. Do not assume a new vision problem is simply part of ageing.
LGBTQ+ Resources for older adults
Look for services that respect identity, relationships and privacy. Confirm whether each organisation serves Australia or the United States before making an enquiry.
Home Modifications
Start with the activities that are difficult and arrange appropriate assessment before purchasing or installing changes. Check permissions, written quotes and maintenance responsibilities.
Help Getting Dressed
Ask which part of dressing is difficult and what help the person prefers. Compare clothing changes, personal support and suitable aids.
Oral Health
Prepare questions for a dentist about comfort, cleaning, dentures and access to appointments. Ask about support with daily oral care when needed.
Foot care and older adults
Ask an appropriate health professional about foot discomfort, footwear and foot-care support. Check the qualifications and scope of any service before booking.
Benefits of Music
Choose music the person enjoys and ask about volume and setting. Treat music activities as a personal choice, not a promised treatment for pain or memory problems.
Hearing Loss
Ask about a hearing assessment, communication preferences and available support. Compare service fees and device trial or return conditions before buying.
Skin Care
Ask a qualified clinician about skin concerns and changes. Product advertising and anti-ageing claims do not establish that a routine is suitable for your skin.
Plan for Aging in Place
Write down the person’s priorities, current support and tasks becoming difficult. Revisit the plan as circumstances change.
Staying Active in Winter
Choose activities suited to local weather, access and personal preferences. Discuss suitable activity options with a health professional where needed.
Summer Fitness
Plan activities around local conditions and the person’s needs. Check access, travel arrangements and alternatives if the weather changes.
Depression
Use reliable information to prepare for a conversation about mood and support. A general article cannot diagnose depression or replace an individual assessment.
Ageism
Consider whether language, decisions or service arrangements make assumptions based on age. Include the older person’s own priorities and preferences.
Breast Cancer Awareness
Discuss screening, symptoms and individual concerns with a qualified clinician. Older statistics in an article should not determine a personal care decision.
Older Adults & Sleeping
Write down sleep concerns and questions for your health professional. Ask about possible causes and individual options rather than relying on a general list of tips.
Heart Disease
Use reliable heart-health information to prepare questions for your clinician. Individual risk, symptoms and treatment require personal assessment.
Keep your heart healthy
Discuss heart-health questions with your treating professional and ask which advice applies to your circumstances. General guidance does not guarantee prevention.
Delirium
Use clinical information about confusion to prepare questions, not to diagnose someone yourself. If a change is sudden or urgent, seek prompt medical help rather than waiting for a website enquiry.
Mental Health
Explore support that respects the person’s preferences, culture and circumstances. Discuss concerns with an appropriate health professional.
Urinary Incontinence
Ask an appropriate clinician about continence concerns and the options that fit the person’s needs. A product or general article is not a substitute for assessment.
Travel Destinations
Compare destinations against mobility, access, insurance, transport and personal preferences. Old destination rankings may not reflect current conditions.
Older Adults and Diabetes
Discuss symptoms, tests and care plans with a qualified clinician. Do not use a symptom list or older population statistic to diagnose yourself.
Veterans Day Activities
Choose a commemorative activity only if the veteran wants to participate. Ask about personal preferences, access and the meaning of the occasion to them.
Memory Games
Choose enjoyable games at a comfortable level. Do not present games as proven prevention or treatment for dementia. Respect the person’s interest and choice to stop.
Financial Literacy
Organise questions about care costs and seek appropriately qualified financial advice when needed. General educational resources do not provide a personal investment recommendation.
Stroke
Use official stroke information for emergency-awareness education. If you suspect a medical emergency, contact local emergency services immediately rather than sending a website enquiry.
Social Determinants of Health
Consider practical barriers such as housing, income, transport, language and social support when planning care. Ask which local services can help with the barriers the person identifies.
Questions to ask Aged care Facilities
Ask about staffing, daily routines, fees, visiting arrangements and how concerns are handled. Involve the person receiving care and request written answers to important questions.
Daily Living Aids
Start with the activity the person wants to manage more easily. Compare suitability, trial options, instructions and returns before choosing an aid.
Benefits of Technology
Check accessible controls, setup, privacy, subscriptions and ongoing support. Technology should fit the person’s preferences and routine.
6 tips for staying independent
Agree which activities the person wants to continue and what support would help. Review practical arrangements as their circumstances change.
Safer Food Choices
Follow current official food-handling information and any individual dietary advice. Check storage, preparation and delivery arrangements when organising meals.
Grief and Loss
Ask what kind of support the person would welcome. Check local counselling, bereavement and community services, including eligibility and cost.
Create a Caregiving Network
Agree who will help with which tasks, how information will be shared with consent, and who provides backup. Keep responsibilities realistic and review the arrangement regularly.
