Help to stay at home

Living as independently as possible in our own home is what we all want. Depending on how your stroke has affected you, there can be some challenges, but help is available.

Things you might need help with include:

• Personal care: things like showering and dressing
• Health care: things like wound care and medication management
• Housework: things like meals and cleaning
• Home maintenance: things like changing light bulbs and mowing lawns
• Respite care: providing a break for carers.

If you are still in hospital, your treating team will work with you to refer you to the services you’ll need when you go home. Make sure you discuss all the needs you might have with them. You will need to know what services have been arranged, and who to contact if something goes wrong.

If you are living at home and would like some advice about your options, there is plenty of information available. If you are over 65, www.myagedcare.gov.au is an excellent source of information. It details the types of services available and who provides them in your local area. You can also call them on 1800 200 422 between 8am and 8pm on weekdays or between 10am and 2pm on Saturdays (closed Sundays and public holidays).

If you are under 65, you can get support from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

More and more, services are provided in ways that make the most of people’s ability to do things for themselves. This idea of doing things with you, not just for you, can really help in maintaining your ability to live at home.

The service system can be hard to navigate sometimes, so if you are having trouble, call StrokeLine for advice on 1800 787 653.