It might be brought on by a fall, or it may simply be that someone close to you needs more regular help than you can provide. But with 1-in-7 Australians being over age 65, the likelihood is that at some stage it will be up to you to investigate and decide on appropriate care.

Don’t underestimate the emotional turmoil that this can bring. Yet helping someone you love through this can be equally rewarding. The important thing is to plan ahead.

Aged care is a relatively complex area. A good place to start is to better understand the issues and to then seek advice to avoid the pitfalls. Start with these:

• Australia’s aged care system
• The terminology used
• The process for entering an aged care residence
• The financial issues to consider

Useful Government links:

• My Aged Care
• Australian Institute of Health & Welfare