Aged Care Placement Service

Do you need an aged care placement service to find the right solution for your situation?

Is it time for you to move into residential aged care?

Have you, or someone you care about, decided that it is time for you, or them, to move into residential aged care? If so, you might feel a little overwhelmed.

Why?

First, most people find this an emotional and even difficult time. It is never easy to contemplate losing your independence or to watch someone you love contemplate it. As a result, family members are often left feeling guilty that they aren’t doing enough to assist.

Second, just when you are feeling the most fragile, you realise that moving into residential care isn’t simply a matter of picking a suitable home, packing your bags and moving in.

Here are some of the things you need to consider:

• In order to move into aged care, you have to be eligible for it (this means you or your loved one will need to be assessed by someone from an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT).
• Even if you find the perfect place, you will only be able to move in if there is a vacancy.
• Under the new ‘user pays’ system, there are several ways you can pay for a place in a facility.
• If you want a subsidised place, you will need to undertake an assessment by Centrelink or the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA).
• You may need to get financial advice from an independent expert, who will help you structure your affairs in such a way that you are maximising the government assistance you are entitled to receive as well as protecting your assets.
• You will need to prepare for the move, which includes deciding on what clothes, furniture and personal effects to take with you to your new home.
• You may decide that, although you don’t need to move into an aged-care facility yet, you want to put together an advanced care plan so you have some say in where you go.
• You should make sure your will and powers of attorney are up to date.

How can we help you find the best possible aged-care solution for your situation?

We’ve devised 8 steps to enable us to find the best possible solution for your situation and to ensure the process runs smoothly.

Step 1: Meet with you to discuss your circumstances

We meet with you for a no-obligation consultation.

This is a chance for you not only to get a sense of whether we are the right aged-care placement service for you but also for us to:

• talk about your situation with you
• discuss your preferences
• explain the types of residential care available (permanent care, specialist care, respite care, extra services)
• outline exactly how the system works (what you need to do to qualify for subsidised care, undergo an ACAT assessment and meet Centrelink requirements)
• talk about or show you your options
• go through the cost structures with you (including explaining when you might qualify for government assistance).

Step 2: Organise an ACAT assessment

If, after talking, you come to the conclusion that residential aged care (an aged-care home) is the best solution and you wish to receive a government subsidy, you will need to have an ACAT assessment. An ACAT assessment is useful because it provides a detailed overview of the kind of care you require.

An ACAT assessment determines:

• the level of care you require
• What kind of help is the most suitable.

In order to receive an ACAT assessment, you will need to fill in a detailed form about your physical, domestic and medical situation. We can help with this and, where possible, we can be present during the assessment process.

Step 3: Organise an assets assessment

If you are planning to apply for subsidised care, you will also need to request an assets assessment. This is where things get complicated, because the assets assessment is a formal process undertaken by Centrelink or the DVA. Before you submit this very long form, you will need to do your homework.

Why?

Because it is important to ensure that your assets and income are structured in so that you:

• minimise the cost of aged-care fees and charges
• maximise the value of any remaining assets
• don’t compromise your Centrelink/DVA pension.

We may suggest that before applying for an assets assessment, you seek the assistance of an independent reputable financial adviser, because they can help you structure your affairs in a way that will minimise the cost of your care while protecting your assets.

Step 4: Provide a short list of aged-care options tailored specifically to your requirements and preferences

After the assessment, we will present you with a list of possible options for residential aged care, based on:

• your aged-care needs your financial situation
• your personal preferences.

Because we offer a customised service, we will have a detailed discussion with you about what you are looking for, which will allow you to benefit from our local knowledge. In short, we can tell you the things that don’t appear in the glossy brochures.

Step 5: Arrange tours of the facilities on your short list

Once you’ve identified the aged-care facilities that you’d like to consider, we can organise tours of them, so that you can make an informed decision. If you like, we can visit these facilities with you, and talk you through the pros and cons of each one.

Step 6: Help negotiate your entrance into an aged-care facility

The application procedure for aged-care homes can be cumbersome. Sometimes people don’t realise a few of the charges and fees, such as bonds or deposits, can vary depending on your care needs and preferences. In other cases, people realise that they can pay the deposit over time but don’t feel comfortable discussing their options. At the same time, you may need to be strategic. There can be a lot of competition for places in homes (especially those with good reputations), so you need to ensure you have your finances worked out and everything prepared for when a room becomes available.

You will also have to sign a resident agreement, so you will need to be familiar with the terms and conditions you are agreeing to.

We can help you with filling in and reviewing the documents involved –even more importantly, we can assist you to negotiate fees and charges where applicable. Specifically, we can help you negotiate the payment method of the bond.

Step 7: Organise your move and help you settle in

We take out the stress and anxiety associated with moving, by helping you move and to settle in to your new home.

Step 8: Arrange follow-up visits

Depending on your circumstances, you might want us to check up on you, or someone you care about, on a regular basis. Obviously, we are happy to do that as well.

Do you need assistance in finding the right aged-care solution for your particular situation? Are you interested in a more personalised service? Would you like to talk through your options with someone who understands the aged-care system? If so, call Bina on 0418 651 330.