Aged care facilities are designed for seniors who are unable to live at home. Some residents may only stay in a facility for a few weeks, while recovering from illness or injury, while others will move in permanently.

Accommodation Types:

Low Care ( Hostel) is provided for people who have varying care needs, but who can still function independently in many areas.

High Care (Nursing Home) is provided for people with very complex care needs and for those dependent on staff for assistance with daily activities including showering, dressing and eating.

Ageing in Place is offered by some low care facilities to allow those residents whose needs increase to high level care, to stay in their current location and access additional care services.

Extra Services. Some aged care facilities allow you to pay a higher fee for additional benefits including larger rooms, wider meal selection and extended access to therapy services.

The Department of Health and Ageing is the funding authority for Commonwealth funded residential aged care services and they provide a wealth of information for consumers and potential consumers of services.

If you visit their website on www.health.gov.au and click on the “For Consumers” blue tab on the left hand side of the home page, you will then be able to choose from a variety of interest areas.  Click on “Ageing” and then choose ‘Residential Care’.

Once in this section, you will find information about the following:

• Eligibility for Aged Care Services,
• Cost of Residential Care,
• Extra Services, Residential Care
• 5 Step Entry Pack, Quality of Care,
• Support for Aged Care Residents; and
• Your Rights

This is an excellent resource which outlines many of the commonly asked questions about residential care.  It also includes a generic application form as well as a copy of the Asset Assessment Booklet.

The Entry Process

To enter an aged care facility you require a referral from a government Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). A team of experts will assess your care and health needs and advise on the level of services you require or whether you should enter an aged care facility. For details call any Commonwealth Carelink Centre on 1800 052 222.

Fee Structures

The cost of most residential care is offset by government funding. Facilities can charge a partially refundable entry bond or fee based on an assessment of your assets. The ongoing charges which cover accommodation, food and other standard living expenses are normally less than the aged pension.

What If I Need Assistance While Awaiting Placement?

Many people live in the community, either alone or with family and friends.  When the time comes to consider placement in a residential care facility, you or your loved one already have some personal care needs.

You are able to identify community based services for your geographical area by calling Commonwealth Carelink on

1800 052 222.   They will put you in touch, or give you contact details of the services you require.  For more information please go to www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au

How Do I Find a Residential Care facility?

You are able to locate aged care services in your region by following the link to the listing in our publication “Now That’s Living”.  The list provides you with a telephone contact as well as lists whether the service provides for High Care (Nursing Home level of care); Low Care (Hostel level of care) Retirement Village (Independent Living); Community Care and Rental.

The next thing you should do is visit the facilities that seem to meet your needs.  Once you have done this, you will need to submit a formal application to those services, and then await a placement.

Asset Testing For Aged Care

Since the 1 July 2009, Centrelink and the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) have been responsible for undertaking an asset assessment of seniors seeking to enter an aged care service.

This assessment will help you work out the amount you may be asked to pay towards the accommodation costs for permanent residential aged care. If you do not wish to receive these concessions you do not require an asset assessment. If you are eligible to be a concessional resident, you will not need to pay an accommodation bond or accommodation charge.

If you are eligible to be an assisted resident, you may be asked to pay a small bond or accommodation charge ( the amount you pay will depend on the value of your assets). Centrelink and DVA may also use this asset information to structure income support payments to those who are eligible.

YOU SHOULD APPLY for an assets assessment if:

• You have had an ACAT assessment, and have been advised or your expect to be advised that you have been approved to receive permanent residential aged care; or

• You have entered permanent resident aged care and have not yet had an ACAT assessment; or

• You have moved from one aged care home to another.

YOU SHOULD NOT APPLY for an assets assessment if:

• You are in an aged care service and you do not intend to move, or               
• You are intending to enter respite care, or

• You have entered a new service. Within 28 days of leaving an earlier service, and you:

-   paid an accommodation bond in  the earlier service; or

-   will be rolling over the balance of that bond to the new service; or

• within the 12 months transitional period, you choose to have an assets assessment undertaken by an aged care provider, and you are eligible to make that choice.

Where can I obtain a ‘Request for an Asset Assessment?’

When you contact your ACAT Assessor you should be offered a “5 Steps to Entry into Residential Aged Care” pack, containing a Request for an Asset Assessment Form. You can also download this pack from:

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/content/ageing-rescare-aaform.htm-copy2