Key Points
- Create a wish list of the things that are important to you about when you live and how you live including location, accommodation style, amenities and social activities.
- Identify services in your preferred location.
- Create a shortlist of suitable residential aged care services and make contact to see if you can arrange a visit to have a look around.
- When taking a tour of potential services ask lots of questions about staff ratios and roles.
- Check the residential aged care costs for the room and additional services and do a reality check to see if it is affordable and if there are additional out of pocket fees.
Residential Aged Care
Moving into residential aged care is a move to a new home. Even though this is not a home you are buying, if you think about it in terms of a property transaction it might help you to build a checklist to make the right choice.
When you last bought (or rented) a home, you probably did not start your research by looking for the cheapest option, but rather you began by thinking about where you wanted to live and what sort of lifestyle you wanted. This is also a good place to start when choosing residential aged care.
Step 1 - Create a wish list
Create a wish list of the things that are important to you about when you live and how you live including location, accommodation style, amenities and social activities.
Step 2 - Identify services
Identify services in your preferred location. You might be able to start with local knowledge and ask friends for recommendations or do a simple internet search for “residential aged care in [area name]”. The government’s MyAgedCare website (myagedcare.gov.au) also has a search function to start you off.
Step 3 - Create a shortlist
Create a shortlist of suitable residential aged care services and make contact to see if you can arrange a visit to have a look around.
Step 4 - Ask lots of questions.
Ask lots of questions. When taking a tour of potential services ask lots of questions about staff ratios and roles. Look for signs that indicate the staff aim to make it feel like home (such as personal items on display) and watch how staff interact with residents. Ask to look at the activity schedule and ask questions about how social interaction is encouraged.
Examples of questions that you can ask:
- Is there someone available to care for you overnight?
- Is a Registered Nurse or a General Practitioner always available?
- Is there enough staff on each shift to handle all of the residents’ needs?
- What clinical services and equipment are available on-site to address relevant medical issues? What is the procedure in the event of a medical emergency?
- If you are a pet lover, are pets allowed? What are the procedures for having a pet?
- What does the meal plan look like? Is it nutritious and fresh? Does it cater to the taste of your loved one?
- How safe is the place? What safety precautions have been taken? How do they deal with wandering residents?
- What are the names of the owners and senior staff members? What is their background in managing aged care facilities and meeting the needs of individual customers?
- Does the facility have all the services required for optimal care? e.g. psychologist, transport, podiatrists, physiotherapists, diversional therapists.
- How is the residents spending money managed?
Step 5 - Check the costs
Check the residential aged care costs for the room and additional services and do a reality check to see if it is affordable and if there are additional out of pocket fees. This is where you might need advice from a qualified financial planner.
As part of the Aged Care Financial Planning, it can be challenging to choose a residential aged care facility. It is advised that you initially try a respite care facility to observe how your loved one managed to cope in that setting. If they appear comfortable and satisfied, it’s a good indication they’ll become permanent residents quickly.
There is a lot to think about before deciding which facility will best fulfill your loved one’s care needs.
Making an informed decision about residential aged care is incredibly important. Making the wrong decision can have a far-reaching consequences for the whole family. When aged care decisions go badly, the stress can lead to family conflicts. Call us on 1300 550 949 to make an appointment.
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