Organising and preparing to move in to aged care can be broken down into 5 easy steps. Based on 5 Steps to Entry into Residential Aged Care and used by permission of the Australian Government.
These are:
- Step 1 Are you eligible?
- Step 2 Choosing a home that’s right for you.
- Step 3 How much will it cost me?
- Step 4 Applying for your favourite homes
- Step 5 Moving in to your new home
Step One: Are you eligible?
To find out if you are able to receive government support for residential Aged Care, you’ll need to be assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). Otherwise known as Aged Care Assessment Services (ACAS) in Victoria.
The ACAT is a team of health professionals who assess your needs and offer advice, information and assistance to older people who can no longer live in their own home safely or securely.
An ACAT will assess your eligibility for low or high level residential Aged Care, and provide more information about the Aged Care homes available to you in your area and more. To get in touch with ACAT you can call them directly, or have a loved one or health professional contact them on your behalf.
ACAT assessments are FREE and are valid for 12 months. To see if you are eligible, ACAT will ask you some questions about your lifestyle and health needs. They will then assess the level of care you require and discuss the options available to you.
If you are eligible, the next step is to start visiting some Aged Care homes and find one that’s right for you.
For more information please download the full booklet at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/ageing-rescare-5-step
Or call the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853.
Step Two: Choosing an aged care home that’s right for you
When you start looking for an Aged Care home, it’s important to understand what type of homes are available, such as ones that offer extra services, like hotel style services, as this will affect the costs.
ACATs, family, friends, your local doctor and social workers are here to help you find an Aged Care home suitable for you. You can call Embracia today, to arrange a tour of one of our beautiful aged care homes.
How it works
When a place becomes available at an Aged Care home, they may offer you a vacancy, if you have registered with them and fit their criteria based on the level of care you need matches the vacancy.
How to apply
You can apply to as many Aged Care homes as you like. If you wish to accept an offer, the next step is to meet with the home’s manager to discuss your resident agreement.
It’s important to choose an Aged Care home that meets your care needs and lifestyle preferences. For example, do you want to be close to where you live now? Do you want to be close to friends and family? Do you have a pet you’d like to take with you? Do you have any particular cultural or language needs?
Finding the right home
The best way to find the Aged Care home that suits you is to visit a variety of homes in your local area, or the area you want to live in. It’s also a good idea to write down how you feel about each home, so you can refer to it later.
Once you have made a short-list of your preferred homes. The next step is to work out the costs involved.
For more information please download the full booklet at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/ageing-rescare-5-step
Or call the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853.
Step Three: How much will it cost me?
When you move into an Aged Care home, Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs will assess your income so that the Department of Health and Ageing can work out the amount you will be asked to pay.
While the Australian Government helps you with the cost, Aged Care homes charge a number of fees and charges that you may be responsible for. It’s a good idea to check with your own financial advisers and legal representatives. Centrelink also provides a free financial information service that may be helpful to you.
As a resident in Aged Care, there are two types of payments you will be asked to make.
Daily fees
These fees contribute towards your 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 fee, and
- an additional income tested fee for residents who have a higher income.
Accommodation payments
These payments contribute towards the cost of your accommodation. You only pay this if your assets exceed an amount set by the Australian Government. This is agreed with your Aged Care home when you move in and will
be either:
- an accommodation bond, if you are in low level care, or an extra service place (with low or high level care needs); or
- an accommodation charge, if you are in high level care.
For more information please download the full booklet at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/ageing-rescare-5-step
Or call the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853.
Step Four*: Applying for your favourite home
The application has two parts, Part A and Part B. Each part is made up of a series of questions. Part A is completed before you move, while Part B is completed once you have accepted a vacancy.
Some examples of the types of questions you will be asked in Part A include:
- Details about yourself, including your name, marital status and address.
- The type and rate of pension (or other income support payment) you receive.
- Whether you wish the Aged Care home to contact someone else on your behalf, such as a friend or family member, about your application and subsequent care in the home.
Part B includes:
- Further personal information that’s required by the residential Aged Care home, once you are accepted.
For more information please download the full booklet at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/ageing-rescare-5-step
Or call the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853.