Applying to a home Waiting lists

Applying to a home

As soon as you have been approved by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) for Government funded residential care, you can begin looking for your future home.

You can do this yourself or you can hire a placement consultant to do this for you.

When searching for nursing homes, decide what features are important to you. Are you looking for an extra service facility, a specific cultural environment or a facility with pets?

It is important to know and understand the types of homes that are available in your area because this may affect the cost and services you receive.

It is recommended that you visit as many homes as possible, just as you would when buying or renting a house. This will allow you to get a feel for the culture of the home and its surroundings.

You can also use residential respite as a way of finding out about the quality of care at a nursing home before deciding if the home is a good place for you to move into.

When you have narrowed down which homes would suit your needs and wants, it is best to apply to a number of homes to increase your chances of finding a place quickly.

Waiting for residential care

Nursing homes don’t always have bed vacancies available, so it is likely that you will have to wait for a period of time for a bed to become available.

Some aged care homes may have waiting lists and the length of these varies between homes. If your situation is urgent, please inform the staff at the home.

Generally, bed places are offered to people on the wait list who have a health priority or have been waiting for a place and have risen to the top of the waiting list.

You can be on as many waiting lists for facilities as you would like, but once you accept a vacancy offer, you will be removed from all other nursing home waiting lists.

If you require a bed urgently, you may not have as much choice with the facility you move into. You may have to accept the first offer that is made to you, no matter if it is your first facility choice or not.

Aged care homes cannot predict or know when a vacancy will occur, so it is important to keep in regular contact with the aged care homes to ensure they are aware you are still interested in admission to their home.

If you’ve engaged the services of a placement consultant they will monitor vacancies for you.

It is ideal to plan ahead and take the time to choose the facilities that you want to live in. This means no matter who offers you a bed first, you will be satisfied with the placement.

What happens when a vacancy occurs?

The person in charge at the aged care home will either ring you, your carer or family directly, or phone the social worker if you are in hospital, to let you know they have a spot available for you.

You may be asked to make a decision within hours because there are usually other people also waiting.

You, or the relevant hospital worker, will need to arrange for your transfer to the home as soon as is practicable.

If you are unable to move into a home straight away, you will be given seven days after you have agreed to accept the place to move in. This is called pre-entry leave.

From the date of acceptance you may be charged for your care and be eligible to receive financial assistance from the Government.

Once your place in the aged care home has been confirmed, you will be provided with two or three important documents which will address all the information and details you need to know. This information should also include the Resident Agreement, the Accommodation Agreement, or an Extra Services Agreement if applicable.

It is not acceptable to be charged any fees, or be expected to make any donation, before you formally accept a place in an aged care home.

Deciding on a home

There are a number of things to consider when deciding which aged care home will best suit your needs.

Deciding to move into a home can be a really big decision, so you want to make sure you choose a nursing home that not only suits your needs, but also feels like home.

Making a list of your personal preferences and requirements can make it easier to shortlist aged care facilities. This list could include the care you require and lifestyle options.

One of the best ways to gauge the environment and atmosphere of a nursing home is by visiting it.

Contact the home you are considering to organise a tour of the facility, in most cases your family should be able to come with you.

By visiting the facility, you will be able to assess whether the nursing home meets your needs and if it is a place you would be happy to live.

Any questions you have can be answered by your tour guide from the aged care home.

Additionally, you can have a talk with the site manager to understand how the aged care facility runs and have all your questions answered.