What living in a residential aged care facility is really like: Rosemary's experience

Rosemary Seam, an 85-year-old resident of a regional NSW aged care home, has been living there for five years. She made the decision to move into residential care after struggling to access a Home Care Package due to long waitlists.
“My health needs became urgent, and I was in and out of the hospital,” says Rosemary, who is a member of the Older Persons Advocacy Network National Older Persons Reference Group. “I realised I couldn’t continue living like this, so I made the choice to move into residential care.”
Since then, her health has improved, and although she didn’t feel like she had many options at the time, Rosemary believes that moving into aged care was the right decision for her.
Before moving in, Rosemary had visited aged care facilities in the area, where she had friends living. This gave her a good idea of what to look for when choosing the right place.
She advises others to consider the surroundings and layout of the facility. “It's important to think about things like the proximity to family and friends, as well as having enough space for your personal belongings,” she says. “If you love nature, having a window or a bi-fold door that opens to a garden can make a big difference.”
Other key factors to consider, according to Rosemary, are the medical services available, access to health professionals, and the size of bedrooms. Amenities like air conditioning are also worth thinking about for comfort.
“Cost is another consideration,” she adds. “People often worry about how complicated the financial side of things can be. For me, it was actually pretty straightforward.”
For anyone starting their journey into aged care, agedcare101.com.au’s Resources section is a great place to begin.