Note from the Editor:
This article was kindly written for the SDC by retired psychologist/ member @Joy Straw.

Australia’s ageing population is growing due to increased life expectancy. By 2026, Australians over 65 will make up 22 per cent of the population, up from 16 per cent in 2020. Australians are living longer, by an average of 30 years, than a century ago.

Most of us worked for most of our lives and paid taxes. As we age, our bodies and our minds begin to slow; some of us fast, and some of us slowly. However, at some stage, we may find ourselves or a loved one needing some support.



Coming to terms with not being able to do as much as before can be quite daunting. However, if we accept the challenge to make our lives more positive by accepting help, we will improve our overall health and have an increased quality of life.



The first hurdle to overcome is to accept that we may need support to remain in our homes and do some of the things we previously took for granted. This may be as simple as somebody helping with the gardening. Maybe it’s a little bit of help with the house cleaning or grocery shopping. Whatever help we have will enable us not only to have a better quality of life but also to prolong our ability to stay within our homes.

Currently, the Australian government has what’s called an Aged Care Package (also known as Home Care Package) that is intended to enable us to stay in our own homes. (It is much cheaper to help someone stay in their home. We’ll talk about these packages shortly. There are, however, many other services available to support people to stay in their homes, from local government agencies, privately funded support groups and the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) packages. However, before accessing modifications to the home, shower or help with shopping, we must first come to terms with the changes in our lives. It boils down to whether we are able to remain independent with support or if we need extra nursing support. Deciding to take control of our choices means to determine what sort of life we will lead.

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