Olwyn KinderMoving in - the day of reckoning
November 10th 2009 23:24
Now that you have finally decided which residential aged care facility ticks all the boxes as far as you are concerned, you have completed all the obligatory paper work and ensured that you have had your finances scrutinized by the Tax Office in the form of an asset assessment, you are ready to take the big step.
This transition from private residential living whether it be from your own family home, a rented unit or apartment or even if you have been living with family or close friends for sometime, is going to take some getting used to.
You need to understand that you are moving from independence where you are in control depending on your current state of physical health and mental fitness, to having to fit in with others. This can be a real issue for some folk who do not like the idea of having to abide by specific regulations and/or keep certain rules.
It is important to realise that you are now no longer your own boss. There are others around you that have to be given consideration as well as you. You will find that you may have to wait to be showered, taken to the bathroom, get dressed of a morning, helped to go to bed at night. There are only a certain number of nursing personnel to care for residents during any given shift and this means that they cannot be attending to each resident individually exactly when they request assistance. Patience, understanding and tolerance are going to go along way in making your stay in a residential aged care facility a pleasant experience.
Depending on your cultural background you might find it difficult to adjust to having staff of a different ethnicity and/or race caring for you. Try and focus on the qualities of your personal carers rather than their nationality. Look for the similarities rather than the differences. This way you will forge friendships that will prove to be a valuable asset as you become part of the community of your residential aged care facility.
Once again this information is aimed at aged care services within Australia. However the same principles of tolerance and acceptance apply globally.
If you remain approachable, friendly and courteous you will find that people will be drawn to you and this will certainly enhance the quality of your newly acquired lifestyle.
Residential aged care facilities are not 5 star hotels, they do not offer room service nor are the staff at your beck and call 24/7. However each facility has an obligation to ensure that you have a safe, secure and clean environment in which to live and that the activities of daily living are attended to with grace and dignity.
Next time we will look at the subject of elder abuse which, unfortunately tends to rear its ugly head more frequently than we care to admit.
This transition from private residential living whether it be from your own family home, a rented unit or apartment or even if you have been living with family or close friends for sometime, is going to take some getting used to.
You need to understand that you are moving from independence where you are in control depending on your current state of physical health and mental fitness, to having to fit in with others. This can be a real issue for some folk who do not like the idea of having to abide by specific regulations and/or keep certain rules.
It is important to realise that you are now no longer your own boss. There are others around you that have to be given consideration as well as you. You will find that you may have to wait to be showered, taken to the bathroom, get dressed of a morning, helped to go to bed at night. There are only a certain number of nursing personnel to care for residents during any given shift and this means that they cannot be attending to each resident individually exactly when they request assistance. Patience, understanding and tolerance are going to go along way in making your stay in a residential aged care facility a pleasant experience.
Depending on your cultural background you might find it difficult to adjust to having staff of a different ethnicity and/or race caring for you. Try and focus on the qualities of your personal carers rather than their nationality. Look for the similarities rather than the differences. This way you will forge friendships that will prove to be a valuable asset as you become part of the community of your residential aged care facility.
Once again this information is aimed at aged care services within Australia. However the same principles of tolerance and acceptance apply globally.
If you remain approachable, friendly and courteous you will find that people will be drawn to you and this will certainly enhance the quality of your newly acquired lifestyle.
Residential aged care facilities are not 5 star hotels, they do not offer room service nor are the staff at your beck and call 24/7. However each facility has an obligation to ensure that you have a safe, secure and clean environment in which to live and that the activities of daily living are attended to with grace and dignity.
Next time we will look at the subject of elder abuse which, unfortunately tends to rear its ugly head more frequently than we care to admit.
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