APPLICATION

You need to be assessed to establish the level of aged care support you need. This assessment is free you just need to see your GP or call 1800 200 422 to find your nearest Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT).

The team will visit you and ask some questions to work out your best possible care options.

Of course. And you can also give permission for your doctor to share your medical history with the ACAT team.

While it often recommends low- or high-level care, sometimes the best option is a community care package to allow you to continue living at home with assistance.

Once you receive your assessment, it’s time to research aged care options.

At Fairlea we provide both low- and high-level care, as well as dementia care.

• Rosehill caters for low-level, high-level, and dementia-specific care for male and female residents.
• Penshurst is our female-only home and caters for low level, high level high, and dementia-specific care.
• Harris Park caters for low-level, high-level, and dementia-specific care for male and female residents.

This depends on an assets and income test. If you are above the maximum threshold for a full pensioner, you may need to pay a Means-Tested Care Contribution.

You will need to submit an application for means testing to the Department of Human Services. For more details please contact Department of Human Resourses – Aged care or call 1800 200 422.

Applying for the Age Pension

Centrelink

Centrelink – Age Pension

Retirement Essentials

Is an independent online portal that offers an Age Pension application service that is simple to use and is supported by specialists who are available to help you every step of the way.

Retirement Essentials

Optional services: At times, extra fees may apply for requested or optional services. These will appear in a separate detailed item on your statement.

There are three ways you can pay:

1. A lump-sum refundable accommodation deposit – known as a RAD for short.
2. A regular rental-type payment called a daily accommodation payment – known as a DAP for short.
3. A combination of both.

You can move into an aged care home before deciding how you want to pay. You then have 28 days to decide. Until that point, you will make a daily accommodation payment.

Remember :

• If you have moved into our home at short notice and you haven’t been means-tested, you will be asked to pay the Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP) as an interim measure. This will be refunded if it later emerges (after your Centrelink Assessment) that you do not need to pay it.
• If the means test (from Centrelink) means you are liable to pay the full accommodation price, then the entry price you pay is fixed for the duration of your stay.
• If you are making a contribution to the accommodation cost then this may fluctuate over time depending on changes to your income and assets or if the facility becomes eligible for the higher accommodation supplement.
• You can’t be charged for your accommodation if you are receiving respite care.

Fees for additional services:

Aged Care – The main costs explained

There are extra costs depending on the choices you make. For example, larger rooms that are a higher standard or larger than others and come with extras such as:

Cable/ satellite television

Phone, internet

Onsite hairdresser, beautician

Special therapies such as massage, aromatherapy, hydrotherapy

Facilities like a gym, pool, cinema, workshop, library etc.

Plus:

There might also be extra ‘fee for service’ charges for things like dry cleaning or special outings and events. Such charges are not regulated by the government.

What happens if I transfer from another aged care facility?

If you are already in a low-care home and have paid an accommodation bond, please feel free to ask us how to transfer your bond over. Kindly provide us with information of your current care provider.

We welcome all enquiries, please contact us today if you would like to discuss any aspect of this process.

The Aged Care Act 1997 does not prevent a family member from paying part or all of your accommodation costs. However, any lump sum payment made by the family will be counted as your asset for aged care purposes. This means it may affect your means-tested care fee or accommodation contribution.

It is recommended that you seek independent financial advice to understand if this option works best for you.

It is also recommended that you seek independent legal advice before you enter into a loan agreement. It is important to understand what this could mean for you and your family when you leave the aged care home.

Is it better to pay RAD or DAP?

Some secrets about the refundable accommodation deposit (RAD) in Aged Care

Five ways to fund the cost of aged care (Financial Review subscription required)