Making the move into aged care is a big step, and one that can initially seem complicated, involved and confusing. It can seem like there are a lot of hoops you need to jump through, paperwork you need to fill out and things you need to organise. And even before you get that far, deciding on the best aged care option for you can also seem confusing. There are many decisions to make, and obviously, you want to make sure you’re making the right ones.
If you feel a little overwhelmed just at the thought of starting to prepare for your aged care journey, you’re not alone. It’s common to feel a touch of trepidation at the thought of making this move, as well as feeling some overwhelm about all the steps you’ll need to take. But take a deep breath, because you don’t need to feel that way for long. Help is available for older Australians at every step of the process. There’s a great deal of support and assistance you can access, to guide you on every step of the journey, from making the decision to applying to enter an aged care facility.
Aged care planning advice
Health advice
Your doctor or health professional should be your first port of call when deciding to move into aged care, as they are ideally placed to advise you about when you should consider aged care. While your doctor can’t see into the future, he or she will be able to give you their best guess on aged care timing, based on their knowledge of your health, medical conditions and lifestyle. They can also advise you about how to prepare for when you can no longer live independently, what help is available, what local resources you should know about, and how you can know when it’s time to consider admission into an aged care facility.
Financial advice
If you have property to deal with, or need help with funding your aged care move, it’s always wise to seek the advice of a financial advisor who specialises in the needs of older people. They will be able to advise you on all aspects regarding how to best finance your move into aged care, giving you the best chance of staying financially healthy as you age.
As well, if you can’t afford dedicated financial advice, the DHS Financial Information Service provides basic information about managing your finances. You can access this free confidential service by calling 132 300 and saying ‘financial information service’ when prompted.
Legal advice
Legal advice may also be advisable, particularly if you have complicated property arrangements or need to make a will. Your local legal professional will be able to give you advice about how best to proceed with legal tasks such as these.
Applying to access aged care
Accessing aged care services
For assistance and support accessing aged care services or for more help understanding the process, turn to Advocacy Services. This free, independent and confidential advocacy service can advise you on your rights and responsibilities and help you access government-funded aged care services. The National Aged Care Advocacy Line is available at 1800 700 600.
The assessment process
Your eligibility for aged care will need to be assessed by My Aged Care, and you will be assigned an ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team) assessor or manager to assess you. If you have any concerns or need help with the assessment process, you should first talk to your ACAT assessor or manager (their contact details should be available through the My Aged Care Contact Centre if you don’t have them already). If this doesn’t solve your issue or you need further help, your ACAT assessor can provide you with the contact details of your state or territory government department manager.
The assessment outcome
Once your assessment is complete, your ACAT assessor will make a decision about the level of care you require and whether or not you are eligible for entry into an aged care facility. They will usually send this decision via a letter (contact the ACAT Service or My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 if you don’t receive a letter containing your decision).
If you disagree with your assessment outcome, contact your ACAT service for help. If this proves fruitless, you can write to the Secretary of the Department of Health to request a free review of the decision – within 28 days of receiving your assessment outcome letter. The address is:
The Secretary
Department of Health
Attn: Aged Care Assessment Program
GPO Box 9848
Sydney NSW 2001
If you’re still unhappy about the decision of this review, contact the Administrative Appeals Tribunal on 1800 228 333 for further help (this process is not free, however).
Help with the English language
If English is not your first language, you can call the Translating and Interpreting Services (TIS National) on 131 450, for the cost of a local call. TIS National covers more than 100 languages. Call and ask for My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.
Help with hearing or speech difficulties
Contact My Aged Care through the National Relay Service (NRS) or on 1800 555 660 to choose your preferred access point.
Help with a range of diverse needs
There are programs, information and support available for older Australians of all backgrounds including:
- people who are financially or socially disadvantaged
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people(s)
- people from culturally or linguistically diverse backgrounds
- people who live in a rural and remote area
- veterans, their dependants and widows or widowers
- people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
- people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex
- people who are Care Leavers (an adult who spent time in institutional or foster care as a child)
- parents separated from their children by forced adoption or removal.
For more detailed information on these and a range of other topics, go to the My Aged Care website.
Dealing with your aged care provider
Once you’ve been assessed as eligible for aged care, your next step is to choose your aged care facility and negotiate your agreement with them. You can get help with this from an advocate (call the National Aged Care Advocacy Line on 1800 700 600), financial advisor or legal professional, who can help you understand the terms of your formal aged care agreement. They can also help you negotiate fees and accommodation costs with the aged care provider.
For more information about the steps to enter an aged care home, read this handy guide.
Family advice
One last place of advice that you can’t afford to miss when planning your aged care – is your family. While it’s certainly your decision, it never hurts to consult your family and ask for their thoughts and opinions. This is not to say that you need to follow their wishes, but it certainly can’t hurt to at least consider them.
