How to access residential aged care in Australia – a step by step guide for seniors and their families
- 08 Nov 2023
If you are an older Australian who needs more care and support than you can get at home, you might be considering moving into a residential aged care community, like those offered at Baptcare. Residential aged care communities provide accommodation and personal care 24 hours a day, along with access to nursing and general health care services. The Australian Government subsidises residential aged care to make it more affordable and accessible for eligible people.
In this article, we explain the steps involved in accessing residential aged care in Australia and provide some useful web resources to guide you along the way.
Step 1: Learn about different types of care
The first step is to learn about the different types of care that are funded by the Australian Government. There are two main types of residential aged care: permanent and respite. Permanent residential aged care is for people who need ongoing care and support. Respite residential aged care is for people who need short-term or temporary care, for example, to give their carer a break. You can also choose between different levels of care, depending on your needs and preferences Read more about residential aged care communities here.
Step 2: Get assessed for aged care services
The second step is to get assessed for aged care services by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). An ACAT is a group of health professionals who will visit you at home or in hospital and ask you some questions about your health, lifestyle and support needs. They will also discuss your options and preferences with you, your family or carer. Based on this assessment, the ACAT will approve you for the type and level of care that best suits your needs. The ACAT team can make approvals for both respite care (which provides temporary relief for a primary carer) and / or permanent care. You can apply for an ACAT assessment online or by calling 1800 200 422. You can find out more about the assessment process here.
Step 3: Find a provider in your area that suits your needs
The third step is to find a provider in your area that suits your needs and preferences. A provider is an organisation that runs one or more residential aged care homes. You can search for providers and compare their services, fees, quality ratings and vacancies here. You can also contact providers directly to arrange a visit, ask questions and request a copy of their accommodation agreement. This is a legal document that outlines the terms and condition of living in their home, including your rights and responsibilities, the services they will provide and the fees they will charge. You can read more about Baptcare’s residential aged care services here.
Step 4: Manage your services
The fourth step is to manage your services once you have moved into a residential aged care community. This includes:
- keeping track of your fees
- reviewing your care plan
- making changes to your services if your needs change
- providing feedback or making complaints if you are not happy with the quality of care or service you receive.
You can also access additional support and information from a variety of sources, for example, advocates, volunteers, peak bodies and government agencies. You can find out more about how to manage your services here.
While this article provides a high-level overview of how to access residential aged care in Australia, we understand that you may have more questions about the process. You may want to access the Australian Government’s My Aged Care website, for more information or call 1800 200 422.
You are also welcome to speak to one of our friendly consultants at Baptcare for more information about our residential aged care communities – call us today on 13 22 78 or click here to book a tour.
Community news
-
Personal Alert Victoria | Enhancing safety and independence
Personal Alert Victoria (PAV) offers eligible Victorians a free personal monitoring and emergency response service. This important service is funded by the Victorian Government and helps people continue to live independently at home, safe in the knowledge that help is only a button press away.If you or someone you know is frail, elderly and isolated or who is living with a disability, you may like to consider applying for the PAV program.What does the PAV service involve?The PAV service responds to calls for assistance 24 hours per day.Clients wear a pendant around their neck or wrist which is designed with a button that, when pressed, dials the PAV hotline connecting the caller with trained staff ready to provide assistance. For example, if you fall or suddenly feel unwell, you can press the button and be connected with someone who can speak with you through the pendant.PAV hotline staff will talk with you to determine whether a call should be placed with emergency services, one of your nominated contacts (usually family members, friends or neighbours) or whether you simply require some reassurance about your situation (in the event of a non-urgent issue).How does my pendant connect me to the PAV hotline?A receiver unit sits next to your telephone and is plugged into your telephone line. When it receives an alert from your pendant (after you have pressed the button), the receiver unit automatically dials the PAV hotline.Who is eligible for the PAV service?Eligibility is determined via an assessment conducted in your own home.There are two sets of eligibility criteria to meet – Part A and Part B:Part A:You must meet all three conditions set out below –Daily monitoring – you consent to daily monitoring.Wearable pendant - you are capable of using and willing to wear the PAV pendant at all times.Living situation – you live alone OR are alone for most of the day or evening OR live with a person who would be unable to get to the phone in an emergency (or is unable to use the phone).Part B:You must meet two of these criteria –You have had at least one fall that needed medical attention in the previous six months or be at risk of falls.You suffer from a major medical or chronic condition that puts you at risk of medical emergencies or has some ongoing effect on your health or wellbeing.You are taking six or more different medications on a permanent basis that are prescribed by your doctor / medical specialist.Who conducts my eligibility assessment for PAV?Eligibility assessments for the PAV service are usually conducted by your local council, community health service, aged care assessment service, district nursing service and some publicly funded community rehabilitation services.You can either contact your local service provider directly (for example, by enquiring with your local council’s aged care program) or be referred to an assessment service by your doctor or local community health service.It’s worth noting that there may be a waiting period involved until a PAV unit becomes available for installation at your home.For more detailed information on the PAV program, please refer to the PAV program and service guidelines provided by the Victorian Department of Health.
- 29 Jul 2024
-
Faces of Baptcare | Meet Durham Smith
Personal Alert Victoria (PAV) offers eligible Victorians a free personal monitoring and emergency response service. This important service is funded by the Victorian Government and helps people continue to live independently at home, safe in the knowledge that help is only a button press away.If you or someone you know is frail, elderly and isolated or who is living with a disability, you may like to consider applying for the PAV program.What does the PAV service involve?The PAV service responds to calls for assistance 24 hours per day.Clients wear a pendant around their neck or wrist which is designed with a button that, when pressed, dials the PAV hotline connecting the caller with trained staff ready to provide assistance. For example, if you fall or suddenly feel unwell, you can press the button and be connected with someone who can speak with you through the pendant.PAV hotline staff will talk with you to determine whether a call should be placed with emergency services, one of your nominated contacts (usually family members, friends or neighbours) or whether you simply require some reassurance about your situation (in the event of a non-urgent issue).How does my pendant connect me to the PAV hotline?A receiver unit sits next to your telephone and is plugged into your telephone line. When it receives an alert from your pendant (after you have pressed the button), the receiver unit automatically dials the PAV hotline.Who is eligible for the PAV service?Eligibility is determined via an assessment conducted in your own home.There are two sets of eligibility criteria to meet – Part A and Part B:Part A:You must meet all three conditions set out below –Daily monitoring – you consent to daily monitoring.Wearable pendant - you are capable of using and willing to wear the PAV pendant at all times.Living situation – you live alone OR are alone for most of the day or evening OR live with a person who would be unable to get to the phone in an emergency (or is unable to use the phone).Part B:You must meet two of these criteria –You have had at least one fall that needed medical attention in the previous six months or be at risk of falls.You suffer from a major medical or chronic condition that puts you at risk of medical emergencies or has some ongoing effect on your health or wellbeing.You are taking six or more different medications on a permanent basis that are prescribed by your doctor / medical specialist.Who conducts my eligibility assessment for PAV?Eligibility assessments for the PAV service are usually conducted by your local council, community health service, aged care assessment service, district nursing service and some publicly funded community rehabilitation services.You can either contact your local service provider directly (for example, by enquiring with your local council’s aged care program) or be referred to an assessment service by your doctor or local community health service.It’s worth noting that there may be a waiting period involved until a PAV unit becomes available for installation at your home.For more detailed information on the PAV program, please refer to the PAV program and service guidelines provided by the Victorian Department of Health.
- 27 Jul 2024
-
Enjoying the comforts of home: Lynette and George
Lynette is 75 and her husband, George, is 70. With a little help from home care, they're able to live healthily and happily together at home.
- 21 Jun 2024
