[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Are you looking to stay in your own home for as long as you can during your retirement years? As the years go on and your circumstance begin to change, it is important to educate yourself on the services that are available to help you stay in the home you love and have become accustomed to.

In order to stay at home longer you need to maintain your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. There are a number of community based activities and services that are designed to help keep your body and mind active and healthy.

To help you navigate through these services, here are our top three recommendations of services that can assist you to continue to live comfortably within your own home.

Stay Social with a Social Club and Other Social Outings

Socialising can become more difficult with age, however there are huge benefits to maintaining an active and diverse social life. Spending time with friends can not only reduce your risk of depression and anxiety, but it can also increase your self-esteem, your fitness and your general well being – all which contribute to living a longer, happier and healthy life.

Southcare Social Centre

There are a range of different social activities that are specifically designed for seniors. If you’re a Southcare customer you will have access to the Southcare Social Centre. At the Social Centre, you can enjoy a variety of in-house activities that will not only allow you to spend time with friends or enjoy a nice lunch, but will also keep both your mind and body healthy.

The Centre has regular fitness activities including chair yoga, carpet bowls and Tai Chi, along with a number of brain games to keep your mind sharp. Group outings are organised weekly, where you’re also to head out on the Southcare bus to a number of fun locations throughout Perth.

Whether you come along only on special occasions or you book in multiple times a week, it is so important to keep up social interaction well into old age.

Your Local Senior Citizen Centre – Manning Senior Citizens

In order to stay active and maintain your social life, it’s important to have friends with similar likes and interests. Your local Senior Citizen Centre is able to provide you with a range of hobbies and activities for a very affordable price. Most Centres cater to people throughout all stages of retirement, so whether you’re new to retirement and trying to find new activities to fill your newly discovered spare time or you’ve been retired for two decades, there will be an activity for you.

If you’re located in the South Perth or Manning area, the Manning Senior Citizens Centre is a fantastic way to keep active and engaged in your local community. For just a small annual membership fee you’re able to access a range of social activities including Yoga, The Manning Men’s Shed, Quilting Group and much more.

With a full program of activities that is available 7 days a week you’re sure to find an activity that suits you and your lifestyle.

2. Managing The Small Stuff: Meals on Wheels

Sometimes the smallest tasks, such as preparing food, can become the most difficult when you decide to stay living in your own home throughout your retirement. There are a number of services available to make mealtimes easier for those who are lacking motivation to cook healthy and well balanced meal or even for those who simply forget to cook when it comes to meal times.

Many local Senior Citizen Centres around the Perth metropolitan area operate a Meals on Wheels service. In South Perth, a dedicated group of volunteers, along with the South Perth Senior Citizens Centre offer this service to people residing within the City of South Perth. To access this service you need to be 55 years or older or have a disability.

The meals are available seven days a week and are delivered daily from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. The Meals on Wheels organisation aim to keep the meals as affordable as possible. If you are eligible and receive Home and Community Services (HACC), the meals are subsidies by the State and Federal Government. More information regarding the cost is available through the Meals on Wheels website.

3. Help Around The House: Home Care Services

Maybe it’s becoming difficult to lift and hang out your laundry every week or to reach up and prune your garden which may have become overgrown and block your walkways.. Home Care services aren’t only available for those who are needing a high level of care, in many instances it’s the small things that we need help with first.

There are three options available when it comes to Home Care Services, depending on your personal circumstances. These are the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) which is funded by the State Government, Home Care Packages (HCP) which is funded by the Commonwealth Government, and Privately Funded services.

In-home aged care services can be accessed by anyone seniors, but the level of funding that you get approved for by the government will differ based on your personal circumstances. If you’re starting to think about some level of home care services at home, it is important to get in touch with My Aged Care and arrange an assessment. You will be asked a series of questions over the phone that will help work your needs and care arrangements.

More Information

If you’re looking for more information regarding the types of services that you can access while still living in your own home, you’re welcome to get in touch with the team at Southcare. Give us a call on 9450 6233.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]