Making the decision

When moving into an aged care facility you can bring things with you from home if you wish. It is a good idea however to check with your facility as to what you are allowed to bring as it does vary among different facilities. You may be able to bring things with you such as a bedside light or small table, your favourite chair, a television, radio or books. For laundry purposes a good tip is to ensure all your clothes are labelled clearly.

When preparing to move, creating a checklist can really help. As part of this checklist consider all the business and personal contacts you need to inform of your new address to have your mail redirected. Your list may include:

• friends and neighbours;
• doctor or community nurse;
• gardener and cleaner;
• any community services such as meals on wheels;
• centrelink;
• department of Veterans Affairs;
• Australian tax office;
• medicare;
• your superannuation company;
• roads and transport authority;
• bank, building society or credit union; and
• Australian electoral commission.

You may also wish to organise a relative or professional advisor to take care of your finances. If you are a pensioner or part-time pensioner it is important that you let Centrelink or the Department of Veterans Affairs know of any changes to your financial circumstances so they can update your income and asset details.

Another area for consideration when moving into an aged care facility is whether you are able to stay with your current doctor or will utilise the facility doctor (s). It is at your current doctor's discretion whether they are able to travel out to the facility. If you are happy to go with the particular doctor (s) the facility uses, your medical records will need to be transferred to them.

Legal

The legal side of planning to move into aged care is very important to organise. There are many legal areas to consider when moving into aged care. A professional legal advisor will be able to go through various elements of your facility agreement with you to make sure that everything is clear. It's important to ask lots of questions; anything you are unsure about, just ask!

Your advisor will be able to look into the particular arrangement that the aged care facility operates and explain in detail what it means or you. In addition to assistance with your contact, an advisor will also be able to speak to you about related issues such as:

• estate planning;
• wills; and
• power of attorney.

Organising funeral arrangements is something that many of us don't want to think about. As painful as this may seem, putting thought into it now while planning for aged care can mean peace of mind in knowing that the decisions have been made and family won't have to think about it when the time comes.

Real Estate

In deciding to move into an aged care facility and finding the one which suits your needs best, there are a number of areas to consider in regard to selling your current property. Surrounding yourself with as much information as you can helps in knowing what options are available and which will suit you best. Looking into what is associated with the preparation for sale, agents and agency agreements, legal requirements, private sale, auctions, property inspections and after sale considerations are important.

Removalists

When looking into hiring removalists to help with the often stressful task of relocating, a company's reputation and promise can help short list different options. Bringing in an experienced and reliable team will assist in making the transition easier and provide peace of mind that your furniture and effects are in good hands.

Aged Care Placement Consultants

My Care Path is a national aged care support service, providing expert advice on the best aged care options available. As a complete end-to-end consultancy service, My Care Path is designed to assist with navigating the complexities of the aged care sector. No matter where you live, My Care Path can help you find the best aged care options available.

Do you need help finding an aged care home or home care services?

My Care Path can provide you with a complete end to end consultancy service to assist you in navigating the complexities of aged care and home care. Our consultants are ready to help - call today for a friendly, no-obligation chat! 

Call 1300 197 230