Thank you for reaching out on EnableMe. I am sorry to hear of your mum’s stroke. It can be really challenging to think about these next steps for your Mum. There are others on EnableMe who have been through similar experiences, so i hope they will reach out and share their stories with you.
Is your Mum at home at the moment, or still in hospital? It can be difficult to think about residential care for a parent, but it is important to remember that her safety and ensuing that her care needs are met is your highest priority. There are unfortunately lengthy waiting lists for the higher level packages of care and yes, private providers are expensive!
If the decision is made to look for a suitable aged care facility then it's important to consider a few things- such as the location, the building , the staffing qualifications, the staff to client ratio numbers, does the facility have access to visiting GP's ?, allied health professional's such as OT's and Physio's?, What are the average age and health conditions of the residents there? Do they have suitable groups/activities run during the day that your Mum may be interested in or enjoy?
Visit as many as you can. Our Moving into residential aged care after stroke factsheet provides more information on what to look for and has a checklist that will help you choose the right aged care home. You can find it on our resources page here- https://enableme.org.au/resources/moving-into-residential-care
Ask family and friends for recommendations. Also, your social worker or ACAT assessor know what is most needed for you or your family member, so ask them for advice too.
In navigating this process, it can be a very emotional time, and it's also important to look after your own health and well being as a carer and family member. Remember that there are services to support you as well. I have attached our resources page on carer resources and services here- https://enableme.org.au/resources/carer-resources-and-services.
Carer Gateway is also a great national service that provides information, resources, peer support groups and free phone counselling for carers and well worthwhile engaging with- https://enableme.org.au/resources/carer-resources-and-services. ;
I hope this is helpful in some way
Please give one of our health professionals a call on StrokeLine 1800 787 653 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or email strokeline@strokefoundation.org.au) if you would like any more assistance.
Best wishes,
Alicia
