The cost of rolling the dice with aged care
Bill is in his early 60’s and he works very long hours in a quite stressful occupation. In recent times, he hasn’t been sleeping well and his heart races off the charts from time-to-time. He’s also carrying a few extra kilos and he knows it. Being the “typical bloke” (if there is such a thing) he keeps ploughing forward thinking “I’ll be right”.
Bill went in for some day surgery to have a tooth removed … he’s not that tough. All good with the tooth removal … but the anaesthetist talked to him after the operation and told him that his heart was doing some crazy things when he was asleep. It was suggested to him to get that checked out.
This might be the alarm bell that Bill needed … so he made an appointment with his local doctor to discuss.
Generalist versus Specialist
Bill visited his doctor and discussed the report that the anaesthetist had sent on. The doctor agreed with the anaesthetist and suggested to Bill that he needs to take this event seriously as ignoring it can have serious consequences.
The doctor discussed with Bill two courses of potential action he could take. Self-assessing and working it out himself was definitely not one of those options. The doctor could provide some preventative actions that Bill could take and see if the problem goes away … or … Bill could be referred to a cardiologist to undergo some tests and get some specific specialist treatment.
Which of these options do you think Bill took?
What would you do if you were Bill?
Bill took the specialist referral option which his doctor was very pleased about.
Aged care is no different
When it comes to helping someone you really love and care about get through the (often) treacherous aged care journey – getting the right information by the right person at the right time is very important. Working it out yourself is an option. But getting it wrong can also have serious consequences.
There is so much information out there – just ask Dr Google … and you shall receive. Often this information is time-consuming to wade through. It’s general in its context and never accurately addresses your specific situation … because everyone’s situation is different.
How Family Aged Care Advocates fit in …
That’s where Family Aged Care Advocates can step in. We choose to specialise in the aged care space. We don’t do this type of work “every now and then” among the many other things we have to, and could, do. We do this type of work every day … because it’s way too important not to.
We provide guidance and support to help families identify the relevant options to help you make informed decisions to get the best care outcomes for the people you love and care for most. We’re independent aged care specialists only interested in the right outcomes for you and your family.
Download 10 aged care traps to avoid for your ageing parents
This article is of a general nature only. No specific person’s personal objectives, needs or financial situations were taken into consideration when creating the content for this article.
Family Aged Care Advocates Pty Ltd (ABN 77 642 454 484) are aged care specialists. You should seek qualified financial planning, taxation and legal advice before making any decisions that are unique to your circumstances. This article was prepared in good faith and we accept no liability for any errors or omissions.