top of page

Five Steps to Entering Care

WE UNDERSTAND THAT ACCEPTING CARE IS AN EMOTIONAL AND CHALLENGING TIME.  WE ARE HERE TO WELCOME, SUPPORT AND GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE ADMISSION PROCESS.

There are five steps to follow when you think you or your loved one need to move into an aged care home. By taking you through each of these five steps,we can help you, your family, carers or friends to understand: what residential aged care is and whether you are eligible, how to apply for a place, and what to expect once you have accepted a place and moved into a residential aged care home.

1

Obtain an assessment by the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) to determine if you are eligible to enter into residential aged care.

When a decision has been made for you to consider moving to permanent Residential Aged Care, contact must be made via the My Aged Care website to obtain a referral to your nearest Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) who will then complete your my aged care support plan (MACSP) and relevant approvals for care.

 

A MACSP with necessary approvals needs to be available prior to applying for or entering into Residential Aged Care.

 

BEING ASSESSED BY THE ACAT
Before you can move into residential care, your needs must be assessed and you must be approved for placement by the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). This ACAT assessment will determine whether you require high level or low level respite care, permanent care or transitional care and or home care options.

 

Contact with the ACAT team can be made by referral through contact with My Aged Care. The local  ACAT in the region is Sunraysia Community Health Services.  This may be facilitated by an authorised representative or family member or your GP. This is a government funded service and you will not be charged for visits by ACAT members.
 

Referrals for an ACAT assessment can be made via My Aged Care. Information about the ACAT closest to you is available by contacting the My Aged Care phone line on 1800 200 422 or their website at www.myagedcare.gov.au

 

PRIOR TO APPLYING

  • Ensure your MACSP is current and available or you have access to the allocated referral codes to enable it to be downloaded directly from the My Aged Care portal.

 

  • Hold, where necessary, an Enduring Power of Attorney, Guardianship or Administration, often referred to as an EPA. Information on these is available at The Office of the Public Advocate and the State Administration Tribunal.

 

  • When enquiring you will be asked if you have completed a Centrelink/DVA Permanent Residential Aged Care - Request for a Combined Assets and Income form (SA457). This is not compulsory but essential for fully or partially supported residents and provides information to ensure the correct fees are charged upon admission. Application forms for an Assets Assessment are available in the 5 Steps Pack or from Centrelink/DVA or online. Following submission to Centrelink/DVA, these can take 6-8 weeks to be processed or you may of course seek professional advice and assistance to complete same if you wish.

 

IS IT COMPULSORY TO HAVE AN ASSETS ASSESSMENT?

From 1 July, 2014 an assets assessment is not compulsory unless a person wants to find out if they are eligible for government assistance with their accommodation costs for permanent residential aged care.

 

For further information about assets testing or to request a copy of the  Combined Assets and Income Assessment form and Information Booklet, please contact our Corporate Services Administration staff on (03) 50 251200 or call the My Aged Care phone line on 1800 200 422. 

2

Contact us and take a tour of our home.

Deciding which aged care home is best for you is an important and personal decision.

 

We recommend that you visit our home so that you can experience the person centred care we provide and meet the dedicated team of carers who will work with you to ensure your care needs are met.  Please bring your Aged Care Client Record (ACCR) with you if you have been assessed by ACAT. 

 

At the conclusion of the tour we will provide you with an information pack and explain the fees and charges.

3

Complete and return your application form to Aged Care Plus with all of the required documentation.

SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION
The next step is to complete an application form.  You will need to provide a copy of your ACAT assessment at the time of sending in your form or the issued referral codes to ensure we have access to one. Chaffey Aged Care will accept the government (5 Steps) application or you may use one of our own Residential Care Application forms.

 

To download the application document for Chaffey Aged Care Residential Care click here.

Alternatively, contact the CAC Manager Corporate & Hospitality Services on (03) 50 251200 and request an admission information package to be sent directly to you.

 

ADMISSION POLICY

All residential care facilities are funded by the Commonwealth Government and operate under the same legislation. This means that residential care facilities must offer places to the people with the highest care needs, not the people who have had their name on the registration list for the longest time. The needs of the applicant must match the bed place on offer.

 

WHAT TO DO NEXT

Chaffey Aged Care welcome your enquiry. Please contact Donna Lovell, Manager Corporate & Hospitality Services about our residental care services on (03) 50 251200 or email: dlovell@chaffeyagedcare.com.au. The Manager Corporate & Hospitality Services maintains the residential care wait list and is able to respond to enquiries regarding respite and permanent residential care options.
 

You will be asked for copies of:

  • MACSP or referral codes completed by ACAT for entry into Aged Care

 

  • Completed Application form for Permanent Residential Care

 

  • Certified copy of any Power of Attorney, Enduring Power of Attorney, Guardianship or Administration orders (where applicable)

 

  • Combined Assets and Income Assessment – A full copy of the Assets and Income Assessment notification from Centrelink/DVA is required if you are wanting to enter our home as a fully or partly supported resident. Alternatively we will consider and accept a statutory declaration of your assets and income as submitted to the Department pending receipt of the letter or alternatively we may reserve the right to charge the maximum fees applicable until confirmation and verification is received.

 

If you are not ready for permanent placement, you are welcome to return your completed Application Form and relevant information and a copy of your My Aged Care Support plan/or referral codes (MACSP) to join our waitlist.

4

Meet with Manager Corporate & Hospitality Services so that we can discuss your care needs and preferences.

When we receive your documents and have a suitable vacancy, we will arrange with you to attend a pre-admission meeting so that we can complete your documentation and discuss in more detail your care needs and preferences.

5

Move into your preferred home.

Once we have determined that we can meet your care needs and have a suitable vacancy, we will make a formal offer to you for the room and confirm your financial obligations and provide you with an admission date.

 

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A PERMANENT PLACE IS OFFERED?

All applications are considered on a priority basis rather than on the length of time you have spent on the wait list. Also, all applications are accepted in good faith that you want to move into care from the moment of application and communication to us that you are "ready". When you are offered a place in residential care, you will have very little time to decide whether or not you will accept the placement, you may only have a few days unless otherwise negotiated before you need to move into Chaffey Aged Care.  You are entitled to decline any offer for care, however you may not be considered to be a priority applicant following the decline of an offer but you will remain on our wait list until otherwise communicated.

 

RESIDENTIAL CARE SERVICE AGREEMENT

A Residential Care Service Agreement will be required to be signed before a prospective resident can take occupancy within the home. You are encouraged to discuss the agreement with family or a representative to ensure it is fully understood prior to signing.

STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS?

Our Corporate Services Team is available Monday to Friday to assist. Please call (03) 5025 1200 or email us via our Contact Us Page

bottom of page