How to Access Assistance for Home Care for 72 Year Old with Lung Cancer?

AustriaBargain on 21/11/2022 - 11:33
Last edited 21/11/2022 - 12:02 by 1 other user

My father is 72 years old, owns his own home, has about $600k in super I believe. He retired a couple of years ago.

He has lung cancer and is recently out of breath easily and if he starts treatment he'll be knocked out. He's always been very clean and spends hours every day cleaning his home, raking leaves, polishing glass windows. I'm just wondering what kind of home care he might qualify for to have someone do these things for him, help prepare his food, do his shopping for him, if it comes to that.

He'd rather do it all himself because he is very particular, everything must be done just right, but it's getting to the point where he's out of breath just making his bed. I know he could just use his super but we all have no idea how much treatment and end of life care will cost so it's probably time to start being very careful with money so his time left can be with as much dignity as possible, before he's broke and being washed with kerosene in a state care facility.

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  jjjaar on 21/11/2022 - 11:40

  +3

  Contact your local council. They generally have a lot of excellent support available for elderly people regardless of health status.

  You also have options available through the NDIS but this can take a while to sort out, possibly longer than through council. I would still explore this option, perhaps doing both at the same time.

  https://www.ndis.gov.au/understanding/supports-funded-ndis

  • 

    cookie2 on 21/11/2022 - 19:46

    ndis not for over 65s. Aged care packages instead.

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  AndyC1 on 21/11/2022 - 11:43

  +3

  At the cancer treatment place he is going to get treatment ring them and ask to speak with their social worker who should be able to help with these sort of questions.

  You can also ask your father's GP for advice.

  Also see what cancer groups / help places are near your father and call them to see what they offer in the way of help that your father can get.

  Also check out meals on wheels to see if he can get this as when he starts chemo and/or radio theraphy he will not feel like cooking so microwave or hot meals will allow him to try and keep his strength up.

  Also google "respite care" for later on when you need to take a rest in that your father can spend a night or two in care while you take a break. (You will need this later otherwise you will not be any help to your father in the long run.)

  Also check out the nursing homes to see what they are like in case your father needs to go into high care in 3 to 12 months (or longer). Do this after all of the stuff above.

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  MS Paint on 21/11/2022 - 12:13

  +4

  Register with myagedcare gov.au to check your entitlements and services available.

  You can do it on your dad's behalf.

  • 

    cohiba on 21/11/2022 - 17:50

    OP, this is your best advice. You should request a comprehensive ACAT assessment, which will connect your father with federal and state support. If you need immediate help then your hospital can provide some community services.

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  mskeggs on 21/11/2022 - 12:25

  +2

  I realise it was just a humorous throw away line, but the scandal with the kerosene baths in aged care was a for-profit home, not publicly run.
  https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2000/03/aged-m10.html

  Public services aren’t always glamorous, but at least they aren’t cutting corners to line the owners pocket.

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  Donaldhump on 21/11/2022 - 12:35

  sorry about your dad

  if he has 600k why not pay someone to do it, he has done well to have that much, he could employ someone 10 hours a week or so.

  just read full post. you may wish to research super at that amount he may be better off spending a certain amount and then getting access to the pension. there is a point where having more than 600k or so is actually determintal as lose access to pension. stupid designed system by gov.

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  TurboTortoise on 21/11/2022 - 12:38

  +3

  Your dad wont fall under NDIS. Not a specified disability and not under 65. Apply under aged care, and get an aged care asessment done. IT used to be called ACAT. They will identify the level of support needed then you can access supports such as cleaning, meals, assistance shopping etc. good luck

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    miss arrow on 21/11/2022 - 14:21

    This ^^

    I hope you Dad improves quickly AustriaBargain. Good that he has a good amount of money behind him if he does need to outsource some of his requirements as he recovers.

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  Seraphin7 on 21/11/2022 - 12:58

  There are any number of private providers out there, but I suspect you are looking for some sort of government paid arrangement?

  You will need to look first to an ACAT assessment is likely most easily arranged via whoever is currently providing treatment. Be aware that demand for "home care packages" far outstrips supply so waiting lists can be significant.

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  Sammy2000 on 21/11/2022 - 17:41

  The council can help with care and cleaning but they have all been outsourced recently so there is a wait.

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  cookie2 on 21/11/2022 - 20:00

  +1

  I'm sorry to hear about your dads illness. Look at home care packages. It's the aged care support for over 65s (as ndis doesn't apply to over 65s). Care and support is dependant on the individual assessment and has 4 levels from memory that allow for different supoorts, such as someone assisting with cleaning once or twice a week, general garden sweep etc, bathing if needed, shop visits and companionship visits. Level can be raised depending on circumstances at a later date. My mum gets a worker who visits once a fortnight for shopping trip and once or twice for general cleaning (mopping, change sheets etc). I'm sure there's other stuff available but she's also a workhorse like your father and tries to do it all herself. I'll also say to look into home oxygen tank rental if it helps him as it gives peace of mind and assistance when out of breath, bad day, lots of coughing and tightness etc. It also forces you to sit down and stop for a few minutes which takes the pressure off heart and lungs. Also look into CAPS funding or any access to state based funding for continence issues incase treatment causes gut or bladder issues as this can severely impact quality of life as well. And meal service or possible dietary supplements arranged through the public hospital dietician. Depending on your state, nestle have what's called ncare program and they heavily subsidise the costs of nutritional products such as liquid drinks, powders, dysphagia drinks etc and it's good to have this set up as quickly as possible as it will most likely be required. The public hospital dietician will be able to help register for this. Link up with pharmacy that home delivers as well as it may help in future. Many pharmacies now offer this service for at risk individuals, in fact I think I read something about it through a gov webpage recently but you'd have to look).

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    cookie2 on 21/11/2022 - 20:01

    Sorry re the length.

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  esosite on 21/11/2022 - 20:09

  +1

  Hi OP some good advice from everyone already.

  As mentioned above the cancer team have a pretty great allied health team who can support with this, the social worker are fantastic at assisting with access to support programs etc but generally as mentioned this is done through ACAT assessment than an allocation of a home care package depending on assessed care needs.

  This package then opens possibility to assistance from various providers (eg blue care, Centacare, etc) and it may be things such as domestic cleaners, meals on wheels, nursing support for showers/hygiene if he deteriorates.

  You can apply for an ACAT assessment on his behalf, but the social worker can guide you through if needing help.

  As others have mentioned further down the line he may need respite or even RACF placement. Which can be assessed with the ACAT.

  The other level of support separate to this and reasonably more significant is palliative care community services, but I suspect thankfully he’s a long way off needing that since he’s so functionally independent right now.