The Department of Health and Ageing have published a comprehensive guide to residential aged care titled “5 Steps to Entry into Residential Aged Care”. Our FAQ’s are organised in the same order as this comprehensive guide.
Click here to view the department’s page and to download the guide.
> Assessing eligibility for residential aged care
> Who is eligible for residential aged care?
> How do I organise an Aged Care Assessment?
> What is the difference between high and low levels of care?
> How do I find a good residential aged care home?
> What questions should I ask?
> What is accreditation?
> How much will it cost?
> What does concessional status mean?
> What does assisted status mean?
> What is an accommodation bond?
> What is an accommodation charge?
> What are the daily fees?
> What is Extra Services?
> How do I apply for residential aged care?
> What happens after I accept an offer of placement?
> What is Residential Respite Care?
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Assessing eligibility for residential aged care
Who is eligible for residential aged care?
TLC Aged Care is recognised as a premier provider of quality aged care operating nine state-of-the-art facilities in the Melbourne metropolitan and Geelong areas.
Everyone entering an aged care home in Australia is assessed by a government representative from the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). After the assessment ACAT will recommend the level of care required and provide advice on what the assessment means.
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How do I organise an Aged Care Assessment?
Your doctor, the Department of Health and Family Services, a social worker or a community nurse can arrange an assessment.
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What is the difference between high and low levels of care?
TLC Aged Care offers both high level and low level care. High level care is for people who need regular assistance with most daily activities. Low level care is for people who need accommodation services such as laundry and room cleaning and additional help with personal care - with nursing care provided if required. 'Ageing in Place' is where it is possible for people to receive care at low or high level in the same home. This means Residents don't have to move as a result of changing care needs.
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Finding a residential aged care home:
How do I find a good residential aged care home?
When you look for an aged care home, it is important to understand what type of home you are considering. Are you looking for one that offers extra service places, as this may affect the cost and the services that you will receive.
Commonwealth Carelink Centres can provide information about aged care homes in your area, and the types of services they offer. ACATs, family, friends, your local doctor and social workers may also be able to help you find an aged care home that's suitable. Courtesy of www.health.gov.au
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What questions should I ask?
The Department of Health and Ageing have published a useful booklet of questions to ask aged care providers. Click here to download a copy.
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What is accreditation?
Accreditation is an external evaluation process that all aged care facilities must undergo in order to be recognised as approved providers under the Aged Care Act 1997. 3.
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How much will it cost?
The Australian Government helps you with the cost of your residential aged care, by providing funding to aged care homes. The Government also expects those who can afford aged care to contribute to the cost. Aged care homes may charge a number of fees and charges. Courtesy of www.health.gov.au
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What does concessional status mean?
- receive an income support payment
- have not owned a home for the last two or more years (or whose home is occupied by a "protected" person, for example, the care recipient’s spouse or long-term carer)
- have assets of less than 2.5 times the annual single basic age pension. Courtesy of www.health.gov.au
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What does assisted status mean?
The criteria for determining assisted resident status are the same as for concessional resident status except that an assisted resident has assets of between 2.5 and 4.0 times the annual single basic age pension amount.
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What is an accommodation bond?
Accommodation bonds are like an interest free loan to the aged care home and by law must be used by the home to improve building standards and the quality and range of aged care services provided. If the total value of your assets is over a certain amount, and you enter low level care, you may be asked to pay an accommodation bond. You may also be asked to pay an accommodation bond if you enter aged care in an extra service place, irrespective of whether you have low level or high level care needs.
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What is an accommodation charge?
As with bond amounts, the accommodation charge is used by aged care homes to maintain and improve your accommodation. If your assets are over a certain amount, and you enter high level care, you may be asked to pay an accommodation charge. The accommodation charge is an amount paid daily in addition to the basic daily care fee and any income-tested fee.
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What are the daily fees?
Daily care fees contribute towards daily living costs, such as nursing and personal care, meals, linen and laundry, as well as heating and cooling. These have two parts: - a basic daily care fee, and
- an additional income-tested fee for residents who have a higher income.
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What is Extra Services?
Extra Service offers increased choice and diversity in the aged care sector by giving Residents the option of making additional payments to receive additional services. Residents are required to pay an additional fee for these services and may be requested to pay a bond for either high care or low care accommodation.
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How do I apply for residential aged care?
Applicants for residential aged care usually complete an application form. Most residential aged care homes will have their own application form and there is also the form issued by the Department of Health and Ageing
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What happens after I accept an offer of placement?
Living in an aged care home will be different from the way that you have lived before. Not only is it a new environment, but you are also living with many new people all under one roof. Each aged care home will have different routines and environments.
When you know which home you're going to live in, you may arrange to visit before you move in, to familiarise yourself with the home's surroundings.
Once you have agreed to accept a place in a residential aged care home, you are considered to be a resident of that home. You have up to seven (7) days to move in to your aged care home after you have agreed to accept the place. Aged care homes call this pre-entry leave. Courtesy of www.health.gov.au
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What is Residential Respite Care?
This type of care may be just the break you, your carer, your family or your friends need. Residential Respite Care provides short term care when you need it and if you intend to return to the community. It can be used on a planned or emergency basis to help with you or your carer's, illness, holidays or absence for any reason. You apply for respite care exactly the same way as for permanent residential care. You must be assessed as eligible by the ACAT team. For more information on Accommodation Bonds and Daily Fees, visit www.health.gov.au
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