I thought when my mother went into aged care my daily work would be over. I was wrong

‘Families who make a fuss on behalf of relatives often succeed in getting better services’ in aged care homes, Caroline Baum writes. Photograph: Carly Earl/The Guardian

Like many carers, I thought that when my mother went into residential care, my responsibilities for her daily welfare would be over. I could not have been more wrong.

Spending three months researching all the options, visiting possible facilities and interviewing management about services, standards, food quality, available allied health and activities – then comparing their answers with consumer reviews where available – was a draining and uninspiring process. It was time consuming and frequently misleading. Because of the severe bed shortage in the regional area where we live, I had to look further afield, involving lengthy travel.