The goal isn't to wait until someone can no longer cope and then start asking, “What help is available?” Moving to a nursing home or permanent care can be the absolute last goal, or not at all, but not the first. Though it's case-by-case, for most it shouldn't be the first. I’ve been speaking with families from Melbourne to Sydney, Brisbane to Cairns, and there are three things I hear again and again: “I didn’t know a program like Support at Home existed.” “I thought aged care meant going into a nursing home.” “I don’t want to go into a nursing home. I want to stay home for as long as I can.” And every time I hear this, I think about Rose. Rose moved from France to Australia many years ago and has been living with a disability that affects her mobility. For most of her life, she had her loving husband Ed beside her. He was her partner, her support, and the person she relied on for so many of the everyday things we can easily take for granted. But Ed was recently diagnosed with dementia. Suddenly, the person Rose had relied on for so much was the person who needed support himself. Their whole world changed. Rose was trying to work out what to do next, while their children, now living in Europe, were calling every day, trying to make plans for how they could care for their dad from the other side of the world. Even the everyday things became difficult. What struck me most was that Rose didn’t realise there were aged care supports she could potentially explore to help her remain at home. And that is something I hear far too often. Aged care isn't automatically a pathway to a nursing home. There are supports designed to help eligible older people remain living at home, including Support at Home, depending on their circumstances and assessed needs. And I think this is where preparation becomes so important. Because when a crisis happens, families are already trying to make decisions under pressure. The goal isn't to wait until someone can no longer cope and then start asking, “What help is available?”

Carer wellbeing cannot be an afterthought. The husband who has been married for 40 years, the daughter trying to care for her dad while raising her own children, the wife who suddenly has to respond to accusations, anger, or hallucinations from the person she has loved for decades. And the family member who goes to bed exhausted, wondering: “How am I supposed to handle this?” Dementia can change relationships, routines, roles and the way families communicate. Behavioral and psychological symptoms can also add significantly to the burden experienced by family carers. And that’s why carer wellbeing cannot be an afterthought. If you're supporting someone with dementia, feeling overwhelmed doesn't mean you love them any less. You can love someone deeply and still need help. You can be grateful to care for them and still feel exhausted. You can understand that their behaviour is caused by the disease and still feel hurt by it. All these can be true at the same time… So please don't wait until you're completely burnt out before asking for support. Talk to your family. Speak with your GP or care team. Look into respite and other support available to you. And remember that caring for yourself is part of caring for the person you love. If this sounds like your family, save this for the days when you need the reminder and share it with someone who may be quietly carrying this too. We’re here for you, follow @AgedCareWithArchie for simple, practical guidance for families navigating the aged care journey. Our DM’s and comment section is always open.

October 1st is here, folks! “Stop budgeting for this aged care fee. If you're a full Age Pensioner, here's a change you need to know. From October 1st, 2026, you won't pay the showering co-contribution anymore. It's one of the changes that could lower your out-of-pocket aged care costs. Awesome news, right? If you've got questions about aged care, leave a comment or send me a DM. What’s changing? From 1 October all personal care services will move from the Independence category to the Clinical Supports category for contribution purposes. This is a mandatory change for all Support at Home providers delivering personal care services. Participants will no longer pay contributions for personal care services delivered from 1 October if they are approved for the personal care service type and have available Support at Home funding. What’s not changing? Participants will continue to pay applicable contributions for approved personal care services delivered before 1 October, in line with current arrangements. The definition of personal care will remain the same. It still covers services which help with daily tasks, such as: showering non-clinical continence management dressing eating personal hygiene assistance with self-administration of medication.

You have more control over your dementia risk than you think. Here are some tips to reduce the risk of Dementia in advanced age. We can make changes now, while we're still young. ✔️ Move regularly, even a brisk walk helps ✔️ Keep your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar in check ✔️ Quit smoking or get support to quit ✔️ Look after your mental health ✔️ Stay socially connected ✔️ Keep your brain active: read, learn, create and problem-solve ✔️ Follow a heart-healthy, Mediterranean-style eating pattern Reducing your risk doesn't mean eliminating it. Dementia isn't simply a part of ageing, and nothing guarantees prevention. But looking after your brain and overall health gives you more control over the risks you can change and it's worth starting early. Save this list to remember and share it with someone you love who might benefit from knowing this today. Follow along for simple, practical aged care guidance. We’re here for you and your family.