The thought of moving into residential aged care can be a little confronting. After all, you’re leaving your home, where you feel comfortable and secure, and embarking on a new journey in a new place. The familiar is being replaced with the unknown, and that’s never an easy thing to cope with. So, it helps to know as much as you can about this big life change, before you move in.

You’ll no doubt have plenty of questions swirling in your mind about the place you’ll be living in, the people you’ll be living with, and the lifestyle you’ll now have to adopt – but most importantly, you’ll want to know, “What will my life be like?”. In the day-to-day of life and living, what is aged care actually like?

While everyone’s aged care experience will be unique, we can have a look at some of the most commonly asked questions about aged care – such as these.

How much time do you spend in your room? Many people have a fear of moving into aged care and spending their days being lonely and forgotten alone in their room. But is this actually the case these days? Modern aged care homes are a far cry from the homes of the past, and these days you’re more likely to be socialising and participating in activities than spending all your time in your room. Residents will usually have meals together, and will often spend time in common areas when not doing activities. Of course, if you’re not a social person, you’re more than welcome to spend your time in your room if you prefer – but it’s far from the only option you have. Aged care homes are active places these days, and will have plenty of entertainment and activity options to choose from if you don’t want to spend the time in your room.

How much privacy do you have?

Privacy seems like it might go out the window at residential aged care – with nurses and support staff coming in and out of your room at any time to provide care and services. However, it’s important to remember that while assistance with personal care and hygiene might be necessary, that doesn’t mean that you’ll lose your privacy. Care staff should always respect your privacy and your room should be just that – “your” room. Aged care staff should give you the same respect and consideration that you would expect in your own home. Your room is still your private space, and it should remain that way, no matter what type of care you need.

How much choice do you have?

You may not have as much choice in some areas (such as your mealtimes, or the food you eat), but you will still have plenty of choices to make. How you spend your time is up to you. You can choose to join in with the activities and entertainment offered by the home, or to spend your time elsewhere. You can choose to visit with other people, or have them visit

you. You can choose to spend your time on your hobbies, or socialising with other residents (or both!). As long as you are safe, secure and happy, the choices should be all yours to make.

What’s the food like?

This will vary widely between residential aged care facilities, but good homes should provide you with a range of well-balanced, healthy, tasty and nutritious food that will meet your nutritional needs and enhance your health. Homes should be able to cater for varying nutritional needs, allergies, dietary requirements and tastes, and you should always be able to enjoy the food that you’re provided with. And it’s much easier than having to cook it on your own!

Are you restricted by routines and rules?

Quite simply, no. Of course, there will be certain rules that you’ll need to follow, such as designated mealtimes, but you shouldn’t feel restricted in what you can and can’t do. Your life in aged care should be just as it would be at home – just with a little extra help to assist you in staying safe and healthy. You are still free to make your own decisions – to attend or not attend activities as you see fit, and to go where you choose and spend your time how you please.

Can you take care of your own finances?

You don’t lose financial control once you move into residential aged care. You can still manage and control your financial situation just as you would if you lived independently. Aged care staff shouldn’t have any type of access or control over your finances or your pension payment etc. As long as you are able to manage your finances, you’re welcome to do so. If you reach a point where you no longer want to manage your finances or are unable to, you can organise an enduring Power of Attorney in favour of a close friend, relative, spouse, your solicitor or accountant.

Can you choose your healthcare professionals?

Aged care facilities may have their own range of healthcare staff (either residential or visiting), so you may wonder if you’ll have to use their doctor rather than your own. But your doctor plays an important part in your health and wellbeing, and also your peace of mind. If you have a trusted doctor you’ve been seeing for years, you’ll be more than welcome to continue seeing him or her – and your aged care facility should be able to assist you in doing so. They may be able to arrange for the doctor to visit you at the home, or arrange transport to your doctor’s clinic so you can visit them there. Either way, the decision about what doctor you see will always be yours.

How personal can you make your room?

Most residential aged care rooms come with basic furniture, although in many you are able to bring all your own furniture and belongings. That means you can personalise your room with your own familiar items, to help you feel more comfortable and at home. You can hang your own pictures and add your own trinkets and soft furnishings to help make your room the comfortable and familiar space it should be.

As well, you can arrange to have extra services added to your room, such as a landline phone, internet connection, pay TV or a personal air conditioner.

Hopefully that helps to ease your mind a little about the realities of life in aged care! Have a look at Finley Regional Care’s residential aged care facility here: https://www.finleyregionalcare.com.au/