If you really want to find someone who knows the good from the bad and can spend a few hundred dollars for the support, contact someone who is a member of a national geriatric care management organization in Australia. In the US this is the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (NAPGCM or GCM) and I'm sure there is an Australian equivalent. Geriatric care managers visit in the local facilities and can help in many other ways. I don't need frequent help but when I do, this is my "go to" person who doesn't work in anyone's best interest but ours. These people are almost always masters level social workers who are not connected to any business - they are professionals, like doctors.

Yes would be so good to get someone on board thats in the know. I have contacted alz associations here inAust but noone will actually recommend a place and refer me to my aged care.gov.au which lists them all but that feels like pot luck. Think I will just have to go visit a few and look for myself. I am however hopeful that the 1 that Mum is going to for respite is the one for her. ......time will tell. hugs

When we started looking for a residence a friend recommended that we contact a senior housing assistance agency. You don't have to pay them for the service, they get a fee from the home you decide on. The woman took our information of what we needed, our budget, etc. and then made appointments with the residences, she met us there and asked all the right questions for us. The most important question was the patient / caregiver ratio. It was a huge factor on the place we decided on. They had a three to one ratio, compared to others that had ten to one, one place even had one caregiver for 15!!! She also asked what happens if they have a stroke or a fall and the care needed escalates? We were surprised to hear at some places they couldn't return or the fees skyrocketed. I wouldn't have known which questions to ask. She was a great help.

Hi Kerrylyne im so sorry i cant help you as im in melbourne here we have some good nursing home try and do a lot of research try not to look for the small ones and look forwell known names do you have places under the name of Arcare thats wat we have looked at for my mum beautiful homes
Good luck with it all.

thanks Irene ....where does one get an advocate?