"Something has happened..."
You get the call that changes everything. Your mum fell. There's been a diagnosis. A hospital admission. Suddenly you're meant to make decisions you're completely unprepared for - and everyone's asking questions you can't answer.
You need to know what matters right now, not everything at once. You need to understand what the doctor actually meant. And you need someone to help you figure out what to do this week - because looking further ahead feels impossible.
This is for you if:
- Something just happened and you're in reaction mode
- You're overwhelmed by information and don't know what's urgent
- You need a clear action plan for the next few days, not the next few years
- You're worried something critical will slip through the cracks
What you'll get: Immediate next steps without the overwhelm. Plain-English explanations of what doctors and services are actually telling you. A simple plan for this week only - because that's all you can handle right now. The rest can wait.
Articles in this journey
There's a way forward (let us show you)
You've noticed changes in your parent but don't know what they mean or what to do. There's a way forward - we'll help you understand what you're seeing and show you exactly where to start.
Mum's going home after a fall: Your first week action plan
Your parent's being discharged home after a fall. Here's what actually needs your attention this week - home safety, support services, equipment, and preventing the next crisis - without the overwhelm.
Mum can't go home yet: Understanding your bridge options.
The hospital says your parent can't go straight home after a fall. Here's what rehab, respite, and transition care actually mean, how long they take, and what to focus on now.
Mum can't go home again: Making the residential aged care decision in crisis.
Your parent can't safely return home after a fall. Here's how to navigate residential aged care placement when time is short and decisions need to be made now.
Mum's returning to her aged care facility: Settling back in after hospital
Your parent is returning to her aged care facility after a hospital stay. Here's what to expect, how to help her settle back in, and how to work with the facility during this transition.
Mum lives with you: Managing care at home after a fall
Your parent lives in your home and has had a fall. Here's how to manage increased care needs in your household while keeping everyone safe and sane.
When both parents need help: Dual care planning after a crisis
One parent has fallen, but now you're realising both parents need support. Here's how to assess and coordinate care for two people when everything just got complicated.
Mum's had a fall, and needs surgery: What to expect
Your parent needs hip surgery after a fall. Here's what the operation involves, what happens in recovery, where she'll go after hospital, and how to get through the scariest part of this crisis.
The documents you need (before you need them)
Here's the uncomfortable truth: only 11% of Australians have an enduring power of attorney in place. About 60% don't have a current will. And 86% have no plan at all for what happens if they need care as they age. Which means most families are heading toward a crisis they could have avoided. Here's the thing nobody tells you about legal documents for your ageing parents: by the time you desperately need them, it's often too late to get them.
The three conversations to have before everything changes
Most families wait until a crisis to talk about care - 2am in a hospital corridor, trying to guess what "I never want to be a burden" actually means. But 86% of Australians don't have plans for this stage of life, not because they don't care, but because these conversations feel impossible to start. This guide breaks down the three essential conversations to have with your parent before everything changes: what matters most to them if they need care, what medical decisions they'd want if they can't speak for themselves (including who should speak for them), and how your family will actually make it work without destroying each other. You'll get specific questions to ask, scripts for starting each conversation, strategies for handling resistance, and guidance on documenting what you learn. These conversations are hard - but having them now means making decisions later that actually align with what your parent wants, not just what seems practical in a crisis.
CHSP, HCP, NDIS, DVA: Decoding the alphabet soup of home care
Confused by CHSP, HCP, NDIS, and DVA acronyms when seeking home care help for your ageing parents? This guide translates the alphabet soup of Australian home care into clear next steps during crisis moments.
The siblings who disappeared all year suddenly have opinions about Mum's care
When a crisis hits, distant siblings often emerge with strong opinions but little context. How to manage family conflict when decisions need to happen fast.
When you're far away and can't see what's really happening
Distance makes everything harder when your aging parent lives interstate or overseas. How to get accurate information, build remote oversight, and know when to act - whether you're managing from Sydney to Perth or Melbourne to Mumbai.