You may have heard of an old persons home, or a nursing home. Nowadays, we often refer to these as Residential Aged Care Facilities or Aged care homes.
Sometimes ageing persons are no longer able to live independently in their own home for many reasons ranging from illness to disability, etc.
Residential aged care is an option for people who are unable to live independently any longer, offering assistance with activities of daily living and in some cases, 24 hour around the clock care if required.
To determine your eligibility for residential care, you need to be assessed by the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT).
Arrange an assessment by calling My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or by visiting www.myagedcare.gov.au.
If you are a self-funded retiree or a part pensioner, you will still require an assessment from the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) to determine your eligibility for residential aged care.
Phone My Aged Care to arrange an assessment.
Have a meeting with the Aged Care Assessment Team.
Receive the outcome of the assessment from My Aged Care.
If you have been referred for a comprehensive assessment, an assessor from an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) will contact you to arrange a time to visit.
You can refer yourself for an assessment, or a health professional such as your G.P. may do so.
The Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) will call you to arrange a meeting time.
You may give the assessor permission to talk with your support people (e.g. a family member or carer) and you may want to have a support person present during your meeting. Alternatively, if you require an advocate you can call the Aged Care Advocacy Line on 1800 700 600. They can help raise your concerns and give you information about your rights in regards to the assessment process.
You will develop a support plan with the assessor during your meeting. The support plan will include the services and care that best meets your needs, based on your current circumstances.
The assessor will then make a decision about your care needs, your eligibility to receive care and the level of care that best meets your current needs.
If the assessment determines that you are eligible for support services, then you will receive a letter of approval from ACAT. Sometimes there is a waiting period.
If at any time your circumstances change, you can contact My Aged Care at any time to receive a new assessment.
Aged care costs are subsidised by the federal government for those people who are eligible. It is expected however, that you will contribute towards your aged care costs, including your accommodation costs if you are able to do so. Click on the links below to find out more.
Once you have found a few homes that you would like to visit, give them a call and arrange meeting times.
Remember that you can always have a list of questions to ask them and you are able to have your support people with you at the meeting/ visit.
Keep browsing other services below or for your free personal aged care summary head here.