Caring for your Parents

Part 1: Useful information and links about Aged Care homes

Knowing where to start to find out information on aged care homes can be a stressful experience. What is involved, the cost, availability, location, type of accommodation are important considerations.

This article provides you with starting points for your search from key organisations and Government Departments, and some basic information links on residential aged care services. We have independently reviewed information relevant to Baby Boomers from Government and industry websites for this article.

Residential Aged Care

Government information website

http://www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au/

5 steps to Entry into Residential Aged Care

This booklet will help you, your carer, your family or friends to understand what residential aged care is, why you might want or need it, and how to go about arranging it.

The Five Steps

1.Assessing your eligibility (ACAT assessment)

2.Finding a home

3.Working out the cost

4.Applying

5.Moving and settling in

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ageing-rescare-resentry_a.htm

#For High Care residents a daily Accommodation Charge may apply in addition to the daily care fee

depending on your assets test:

http://www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au/internet/agedcare/publishing.nsf/Content/accommodation+charge-1

#For Low Care residents and Extra Service an Accommodation Bond may apply in addition to the

daily care fee depending on your assets test:

http://www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au/internet/agedcare/publishing.nsf/Content/accommodation+bond-1

Assets assessments - http://www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au/internet/agedcare/publishing.nsf/Content/Assets+assessments?Open&etID=WCMEXT05-WCME-78Y5RL

What if I can’t afford to pay? - http://www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au/internet/agedcare/publishing.nsf/Content/What%20if%20I%20cant%20afford%20to%20pay

how is the accommodation payment assessed? - http://www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au/internet/agedcare/publishing.nsf/Content/Assets%20assessments

What does the Government pay? - http://www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au/internet/agedcare/publishing.nsf/Content/What%20does%20the%20government%20pay

Standards of care

Standards of care in aged care homes- http://www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au/internet/agedcare/publishing.nsf/Content/Standards+of+care-2

Quality of Care - http://www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au/internet/agedcare/publishing.nsf/Content/Quality+of+care

Other languages

http://www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au/internet/agedcare/publishing.nsf/Content/Other+Languages

Indigenous

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/Aboriginal+and+Torres+Strait+Islander+Health-1lp

Help for carers and families

Carers are usually family members or friends who provide support to a person who has a disability, a mental illness, a chronic condition or is too frail to provide care for themselves. Not everyone who gives care thinks of themself as a carer. If so, they may be missing out on the wide range of opportunities available to support them.

http://www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au/internet/agedcare/publishing.nsf/Content/for+carers+and+family

http://www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au/internet/agedcare/publishing.nsf/Content/for+carers+and+family#1

Financial and legal help

http://www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au/internet/agedcare/publishing.nsf/Content/Financial%20and%20legal%20help-1

Financial - http://www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au/internet/agedcare/publishing.nsf/Content/Financial%20planning

Legal - http://www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au/internet/agedcare/publishing.nsf/Content/Legal%20support-1

Legal Aid - http://www.nla.aust.net.au/

Aged Care home finder– by State and suburb or by name

The Aged Care Home Finder enables you to look for the Australian Government-funded aged care homes that meet your particular needs.

http://www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au/internet/agedcare/publishing.nsf/Content/aged%20care%20home%20finder

(Note: The Government Aged care Home Finder contains some information provided by aged care homes. We do not guarantee its accuracy, currency or completeness. The Government does not endorse or recommend individual homes listed on the Home Finder).

Aged care Service lists by State and Territory

Lists of Australian Government-funded aged care services including:

Residential aged care services (aged care homes);

Services that provide Community Aged Care Packages;

Services that provide Extended Aged Care at Home and Extended Aged Care at Home - Dementia packages;

Transition Care services;

Innovative Pool services;

Multipurpose Services providing aged care; and

services funded under the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Strategy.

Each downloadable file contains:

the name outlet ID for each service;

its street address;

the types of care provided:

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ageing-rescare-servlist-download.htm

Seniors Portal

The Australian Government's premier source of information for Australians over 50.

http://www.seniors.gov.au/internet/seniors/publishing.nsf/Content/Home+Page

Aged Care Information Line

The Aged Care Information Line provides information about Australian Government-funded residential aged care, and support and programs for older people in the community

Phone – 1800 500 853.

Information Sheets

Information Sheets concerning Residential Aged Care

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ageing-publicat-qcoa-qcoaindx.htm

Information Sheet 9 - Fees and Charges - an overview

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ageing-publicat-qcoa-09info.htm

Information Sheet 11 - Income-tested fees for residential care

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ageing-publicat-qcoa-11info.htm

Information Sheet 13 - Financial Hardship Assistance

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ageing-publicat-qcoa-13info.htm

Information Sheet 15 - The Accommodation Charge

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ageing-publicat-qcoa-15info.htm

Information Sheet 16 - Accommodation Bonds

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ageing-publicat-qcoa-16info.htm

The Aged Care Advocacy Service – There is an advocacy service available in each state and territory.

http://www.agedrights.asn.au/rights/home.html

Government agencies

Aged Care Information Line (more information) – 1800 500 853.

Department of Health and Ageing Central Office

Switchboard 02 6289 1555

Freecall 1800 020 103

After hours 02 6122 2747

General fax 02 6281 6946

Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Web http://www.health.gov.au/

Address GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ageing-whatnew.htm

Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACAT or ACAS in Victoria)

Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACATs) are teams of health professionals who conduct assessments of older people to assist them to gain access to the types of services most appropriate to meet their care needs. if you want to get some help from the government, you may need to get an assessment by an Aged Care Assessment Team.

You can contact your local ACAT directly by calling the nearest Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre on 1800 052 222.

Health centres and local hospitals can also provide you with information on the ACAT in your area. ACATs can also be found by looking up the ‘Age Page’ at the front of your local White Pages telephone directory.

http://www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au/internet/agedcare/publishing.nsf/Content/being+assessed-1

Aged Care Assessment team finder – by State and suburb or by postcode

The Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) finder can help you find Aged Care Assessment Teams. Because of the way community care works, the ACAT you find may be based somewhere else but service your community. The ACAT Finder contains information supplied by community care services and collated by Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres. The Government does not guarantee the accuracy, currency or completeness of the information or the quality, suitability or availability of any of the listed services.

http://www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au/internet/agedcare/publishing.nsf/Content/ACAT%20finder

Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme

Complaints line - 1800 550 552

Or write to-

Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme

Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

GPO Box 9848

in your capital city.

Advocacy Services

National Aged Care Advocacy Line – 1800 700 600.

We hope this article has been of interest to you. Please feel free to print a friendly copy or download the PDF article for your reference.

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Disclaimer: The information contained in this section should not be used for individual medical or professional advice. Please see your doctor if you have concerns or specific questions relating to your health or seek out independent professional advice as required.

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