Bina Brown

Professionals can help with everything from packing and sorting, organising a removalist and selling goods at auction to removing rubbish and the final clean.

Where previously it was possible to squeeze 18 hours of help a week from a level-four home care package, the average number of hours is now 14.

New minimum two-hour shifts are likely to blow home care package budgets and could push some people to residential aged care earlier than planned.

Whatever it costs, the option of being able to grow old near home and family in an appropriate setting is the least we should expect.

Elderly people spending time away from their regular home during the holiday season can be eligible for extra government-funded support.

There may be more home care packages in the recent federal budget, but in some cases you would be better off financing care yourself.

Elderly people will get used to paying for the services they need rather than wondering what they are going to leave the next generation.