Have you ever wondered what it’s really like to live in a residential aged care home? Many people might be hesitant towards residential aged care homes, but these homes are actually designed to be no different from your own home.

In fact, in residential aged care homes, you can still have the independence and freedom that you desire, coupled with daily support and leisure staff who are right by your side no matter what you need.

If you want to discover more about what it’s really like to live in a residential aged care home, then allow us to give you some insights below.

The Goals Of Residential Aged Care Homes

First, let’s talk about what the goal is of residential aged care. Residential aged care intends to provide both care and accommodation to older people so that they can maintain their health and wellbeing. 

Aged care homes fulfil this goal with day-to-day tasks such as cleaning, laundry, and cooking as well as personal care, such as dressing, bathing, and going to the toilet; access to health practitioner services, therapies, and clinical care; and other services such as emotional and social support and entertainment.

Residential aged care homes that are also government-funded must be approved providers and must meet quality standards in order to operate. Therefore, you are guaranteed the best standards as much as possible.

Personalised Care In Aged Care Homes

The support staff is specially trained to care for you not only to the best of their abilities but according to what you need. Once you arrive at the aged care home, they can work very closely with you to come up with a personalised care plan.

This care plan can outline the needs that you may have (whether it be emotional, medical, or more), along with your preferences so that every member of the staff knows how they can best care for you.

However, if you already have an existing care plan that your doctor or health nurse already came up with, then you can also bring this with you and hand it over to the staff. 

Social Activities In Residential Aged Care Homes

Social activities are a large part of residential aged care homes. After all, the connection you have with your family, friends, and the local community is one of the utmost priorities of aged care.

You might also find a lifestyle and leisure program at residential aged care homes. You might also find open discussions about what activities can be organised in the future, so you have a say in what activities you would like to see.

Talking to staff about your interests will also allow them to support you in pursuing these interests. The staff is there to assist you in any way that they can. 

Independence In Aged Care Homes

A common misconception in aged care homes is that you may not have as much independence as you want. However, nothing could be further from the truth. 

Some examples of still having your independence are the freedom to still vote, manage your own money, and come and go as you place. Your friends and family are also more than welcome to visit you and you can even travel if you are fit to do so.

More importantly, while you can find a wide range of social activities and events, it is your choice if you want to join them or not. You have the freedom to choose how you spend your free time. The staff is there to help you enjoy your life and delve into your own interests and hobbies. 

You can also talk to the staff in case you need help making medical appointments. They will do their best to accommodate you. 

Summary

As we can see from the above, there are a number of advantages when living in residential aged care facilities. From emotional and medical support right through to social activities and personalised care. There is no better way to spend your twilight years than in an environment that is offered by residential aged care.