A The system

Ahuge percentage of Australians belong to the sandwich generation – taking care of elderly parents or relatives while looking after their own families. For members of this generation, trying to allocate time and resources equally is a huge challenge.

Dealing with government bodies is another challenge. But it is a reality that you’ll need to regularly work with these agencies, particularly Centrelink, as your parents age. One of the key steps in dealing with this government body is to be well prepared and organised, whether your parents need care now – or might do in the future. Here are some tips on the best way to work with Centrelink.

Organise important documents

First things first. Help your parents organise their important documents into one folder. These can include:

• Power of attorney

• Will

• Bank details

• Investment or insurance policy documents

• Details of pre-arranged funerals, if applicable

By putting all these in one place, it will make the application process easier when the time comes.

Get familiar with their financial situation

If your parents have been preparing for old age, chances are they have a financial adviser. If this is the case, ask their permission to meet with, or talk to, the adviser so you can have an idea of their investment history, financial transactions, any government entitlements they might be receiving, and other future estate plans. If your parents haven’t used a financial adviser, try and familiarise yourself as much as possible with their financial situation.

Keep Centrelink informed

Centrelink needs to be regularly updated about your elderly parents’ circumstances. Are they receiving entitlements such as the Age Pension? Has their residency changed? Are there any alterations in their investments or major withdrawals from their bank accounts? You need to inform the agency from time to time of these changes within 14 days of the variations. To save you from spending time waiting on the phone or endless trips to your local Centrelink, you can request to be granted permission to know the status of your parents’ eligibilities. You just have to fill out a form and you will have your own electronic copies of your parents’ correspondence. This way, it will be easier for you to deal with the agency on their behalf.

To save you from spending time on the phone or endless trips to Centrelink, request permission to know the status of your parents’ eligibilities

Knowledge is power

Having first-hand knowledge about the support you can get for your ageing parents is essential in being able to provide them with the best care

Caring for your elderly parents can be very challenging. We’re lucky in Australia that the Federal Government is committed to providing assistance to make growing old and caring for our elders easier. Knowing that help and financial support are available somehow makes the journey more bearable.

Life is all about preparation. As the primary carer, having firsthand knowledge about the support you can get for your ageing parents is essential in being able to provide them with the best care available.

Meanwhile, you can relay all this information to your parents, too. That way they won’t be clueless about what they need to prepare, such as the documents discussed earlier.

You can also get help from your siblings or other extended family members. Share responsibilities with them, and discuss aged-care arrangements now. That way you will be ready to deal with the situation when it comes. After all, it is easier to go about this phase of life when everyone is co-operating and sharing the load. ACG

Alzheimer’s Queensland are Queensland Dementia and Aged Care experts, providing supportive Aged Care Services

Whether you are a person seeking services, a family member, a carer, or a health professional, Alzheimer's Queensland offers a range of services including nursing homes, respite care, and in -home support.

We also offer a fantastic range of other health care services such as education and training, carer support groups, and much more.

At AQ, we work with our clients to enable them to pursue meaningful, active and lead independent lives with support from our Community Support Services

Our Community Support Services provide a restorative and wellness approach to supporting our elderly people, to enable them to remain engaged and connected with their communities.

Our program aims to support each one of our clients to build relationships, pursue their interests and hobbies, and maintain their independence, while simultaneously providing their carers or loved ones with a temporary break from their caring role. We offer flexible options whereby we can come to you, or you can visit one of our Multiservice Centres.

Our Community Support Services are provided in the following regions:

• Brisbane North

• Brisbane South

• Ipswich

• Toowoomba

• Gold Coast

Our Services include:

• Centre-based day respite

• Cottage overnight respite

• Social support groups

• Social support individual

• In-home flexible respite

• Personal care

• Domestic assistance

• Allied health services

• Nursing

• Education

• Support groups