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Moving into aged care
August 2022
Key takeaways
- There are three types of aged care which range from the ability to live independently or in supplemented accommodation
- If your relative wants to apply for Government subsidies to move into an aged care, they must be assessed by a member of the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT)
- You may be required to pay fees in a Government subsidised aged care home, so it's important to work out the costs.
While there is a strong preference among older Australians to live at home for as long as they can1, there may come a time when they need to move into aged care.
This isn't an easy decision though— there’s a raft of emotional issues, in addition to financial considerations.
In this article we look at the process to move into aged care and the different types of care available.
Types of aged care
There are three main types of aged care.
Help at home: if your relative prefers to live independently, they can receive care at their home (or a retirement village) when needed. This may include help with personal care needs such as showering and cooking meals, medical care, or other domestic support, such as home maintenance.
Short term care: may be required after a hospital stay or if the regular carer is taking a holiday
Aged care home: supplemented accommodation with 24-hour care available. Can be short term or permanent.
If your relative decides moving into aged care is the right move, there are steps required to get the process in motion.
1. Have their needs assessed
To be eligible for Government subsidies, a person must be assessed by a member of the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). This assessment is free and can be done at home, a health centre or hospital.
The ACAT member will ask them a series of questions about their health, mobility and any help that they currently receive at home, to determine whether residential aged care is required based on their needs
2. Find an aged care home
Once ACAT approval is received, you can start looking for relevant accommodation. When evaluating aged care home options, it’s worth contacting a selection of providers to get a better comparison.
If you’re unsure about the facilities and rooms available in a particular area, you can find out more information by visiting myagedcare.gov.au.
It may be beneficial to have a list of questions prepared to ensure you receive the information you need.
These questions may include:
- What kinds of recreational activities are offered?
- Are the available rooms shared or single rooms, and is there a private ensuite?
- What types of other services are regularly provided (such as physio or hairdressing services for example)
- What food and beverage options are available?
- Will your relative have access to a phone, internet or mobile phone to contact you?
- Ask to see a brief report of the Health and Safety report. This is a good indicator with regards to, not only incidents that have taken place, but also incidents against residents and incidents of residents against staff.
Understanding your rights and responsibilities as well as those of the service provider will help you make an informed decision and get the best quality care to suit your relative’s needs.
3. Work out the costs of moving into aged care
There are a number of fees that may be payable in a Government subsidised aged care home. Some of these fees are fixed and others depend on your relative’s financial circumstances. Government subsidies may also be available.
Here’s a general summary of what your relative could be liable for:
Accommodation fees | Ongoing care fees | ||
Accommodation payment | Basic daily fee | Means-tested fee | Extra services fee |
|
|
|
|
4. Apply for an aged home
Generally, multiple applications can be submitted when applying for an aged care home and you may have the ability to be placed on a waiting list.
You will be asked if you want to provide details of your relative’s income and assets but you are not legally required to disclose this.
5. Moving your relative into aged care
Just before they move in, you’ll be provided with an Accommodation Agreement. This is a legal document which sets out the terms of the residency as well as rights and responsibilities for your relative and for the aged care facility. You may want to consider seeking legal advice before signing it.
When your relative does move into an aged care home, don’t forget to notify Services Australia (Centrelink) about their new living situation and any other change in circumstances (e.g. sale of their home, assets used to pay lump sum costs).
1 Productivity Commission: https://www.pc.gov.au/research/completed/housing-decisions-older-australians/housing-decisions-infographic.pdf
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This article is issued by OnePath Custodians Pty Limited (OnePath Custodians) ABN 12 008 508 496, RSE L0000673, AFSL 238346 and OnePath Funds Management Limited (OnePath Funds Management) ABN 21 003 002 800, AFSL 238342. OnePath Custodians and OnePath Funds Management are part of the Insignia Financial Group of companies, consisting of Insignia Financial Limited ABN 49 100 103 722 and its related bodies corporate (Insignia Financial Group).
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