Have you
supported someone you love
as they started to need
more help?
We're researching how families navigate important decisions when someone they love needs more support.
We're researching how families navigate important decisions when someone they love needs more support.
This is research, not a sales process. Your answers will help shape future support for families.
Families Need More Than Information
They struggle because it is hard to know which information applies to their family.
We're particularly interested in understanding:
- What decisions families had to make
- What information they needed
- What helped them move forward
- What made those decisions difficult
Because we believe helping families make better decisions could improve the experience for everyone involved.
Before creating new tools or services, we want to understand how families really navigate these decisions.
We want to understand
the decision-making journey
Many services are built around what organisations think families need.
We want to start differently.
We want to understand what families actually experience, the confusion, the emotional pressure, the practical problems, the conversations that are hard to have, and the moments when people wish they had known earlier.
This research will help us understand:
- What families find most confusing
- What decisions feel hardest
- What information is missing or hard to apply
- What support feels genuinely useful
- What families wish they had known sooner
- What professionals notice families struggling with most
- Where current services, guides or advice fall short
The purpose is not to sell anything.
The purpose is to learn from real experiences before shaping future support.
We Would Love to Hear From You If…
Your experience could be helpful if you are:
- Currently supporting an ageing parent
- Previously supported an ageing parent
- Helping Mum or Dad after a fall, hospital visit or health change
- Trying to organise care, support, documents or family decisions
- Living away from an ageing parent and trying to help from a distance
- Navigating family disagreement about what should happen next
- Supporting a parent who does not want help
- A spouse, partner, grandchild or friend supporting an older person
- A professional who regularly supports ageing families
- Someone who wishes they had known more before things became urgent
You do not need to have all the answers.
We are interested in honest experiences, including what felt unclear, stressful, helpful or missing.
Why Your Experience Matters
When families are supporting someone they love, it can be hard to know what to do first, who to trust, or which information actually applies to their situation.
By sharing your experience, you can help us better understand the real challenges families face when an ageing parent or loved one begins to need more support.
We will use what we learn to look for common themes, questions and gaps in the support currently available to families.
These insights may help shape future resources, guides, planning tools or support options.
We are not assuming we know the answer yet. That is why we are asking people to share their experience first.
Your answers will not be used to pressure you into buying anything, and we will not share your personal story publicly without your permission.
Share Your Experience
If you have supported an ageing parent, loved one or family member, we would be grateful for your input.
The research survey asks about your experience, what felt difficult, what information was helpful, what was missing, and what you wish had been easier to understand.
It should only take a few minutes.
You can answer as much or as little as you feel comfortable sharing.
FAQ
Is this a survey?
Yes, but we do not want it to feel like a cold or formal survey.
It is an invitation to share your experience so we can better understand what families go through when someone they love begins to need more support.
Are you selling something?
No.
At this stage, we are conducting research. We are not asking you to buy anything.
The purpose is to learn from real experiences before shaping any future solution.
Who should complete this?
The survey is for adult children, spouses, partners, relatives, friends or professionals who have experience supporting an ageing person.
This may include people currently going through it, people who have been through it before, or professionals who regularly support families.
Do I need to share private medical information?
No.
Please only share what you feel comfortable sharing.
We are interested in your experience, challenges, questions and decision-making journey. Detailed medical information is not required.
How long will it take?
The survey should only take a few minutes.
You can write short answers or provide more detail if you would like to.
What will you do with my answers?
We will look for common themes, challenges and gaps that families experience.
This may help shape future resources, guides, tools or support options for families navigating ageing-related decisions.
Will my answers be public?
No personal story or identifying details will be shared publicly without your permission.
We may use overall themes or anonymous insights to help explain what families are experiencing.
Can I take part if my parent already receives care?
Yes.
Your experience is still valuable, especially if you have already gone through the process of deciding what support was needed, organising services, speaking with family, or navigating public and private options.
Can professionals complete the survey?
Yes.
We would like to hear from professionals who regularly support ageing families, including people working in health, aged care, social support, legal, financial, community or advisory roles.
What if I am still unsure what my family needs?
That is exactly the kind of experience we want to understand.
Many families are unsure what applies to them, what to do first, or who to speak with. Your perspective can help us understand where families need clearer support.
Thank you for helping us understand what families need.
Every response helps us build a clearer picture of the real challenges families face when someone they love begins to need more support.
Your experience may help shape future resources or support that makes this journey easier for other families.