Frequently asked questions Frequently asked questions about moving into an aged care home

Making the transition to residential aged care can be daunting and a life-changing experience.

It’s important you make the move confidently and know what to expect. Here we answer a few common questions about moving into an aged care facility.

How will I know when it’s time to move into a nursing home?

Making the decision to move into a nursing home comes at different times and for a variety of different reasons, all depending on the person, their care needs, their support network, or financial status. Common reasons for making the move from home to a nursing home can be:

Unsuitable personal care in your own home – this can mean that you require higher personal care support than you are able to access at home through either home care support services or the care of family and friends.

After a crisis – whether it be a fall or medical episode, a crisis of any kind can certainly play a part in making the decision to move into a nursing home to ensure you get the 24 hour support and care you need.

Temporary respite or short-term recovery – access respite in a nursing home when your carer is away for a period of time or while you recover from surgery before moving back into your own home after you have fully recovered.

Remember it is important to find the right nursing home for you so before you sign the dotted line, why not visit and inspect a few different options and make sure you talk to people at the nursing home you are considering.

Is there a trial period to see whether I like the home?

It is important to make sure you are happy with the nursing home you are moving into and be confident it will meet your needs because it is going to be your new home.

‘Trialing’ a nursing home by booking in for temporary residential respite will give you a taste of what life is like living in the nursing home and may help you in making that final decision of if it is the right home for you.

It may also be beneficial to visit the nursing home at different times and on different days to see what staffing levels are like, what activities are on, and to talk to different people about the place.

How will I know if the home is of good quality?

There are a number of ways that you can look into the quality of a nursing home, ranging from sourcing other people’s personal experiences right through to experiencing it for yourself.

Some of the best ways that you can get an idea on the quality of a nursing home is by:

Speaking to people living in the home – if you are visiting or on a tour, take the time to talk to other residents and even staff about their thoughts and experiences of the nursing home.

Register for respite – booking yourself in for some respite in a nursing home is a great way to get a feel for a place and the people within it. Look to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission – this governing body assesses and reviews all Australian nursing homes against set standards of care which are available online and accessible by you or a loved one.

Consumer ratings – on our website AgedCareGuide.com.au we have launched an online consumer ratings engine which allows you to view real people’s ratings and reviews of individual nursing homes and the nursing home responses, all in one place.

How long can I stay at an aged care facility?

You are able to stay at an aged care home for as long as you want or need. However, you may have to leave a facility sooner than expected if you require additional nursing support or if your current home cannot provide the services you need.

Am I free to ‘come and go’ as I please?

You are able to leave your aged care facility for up to 52 nights in a financial year. This is called ‘social leave’.

While you will still have to pay your daily fees and income tested fees, the Australian Government will continue to pay the appropriate subsidies to your aged care home on your behalf. This 52 day allocation period cannot be increased.

What if I need to go to hospital?

The time you spend in hospital will not count towards your social leave, but you’ll still have to pay your usual fees and payments.

The Government will continue to pay appropriate subsidies to your aged care home while you are in hospital.

Under what circumstances can I leave my current aged care home to move to another?

You may wish to leave your current aged care home to move to another if: You have been accepted to another aged care home which may better suit your health care needs; or If you have been asked to leave.

Can the aged care home ask me to leave?

An aged care home might ask you to leave, with 14 days notice, if: They are closing;

They can’t provide the type of accommodation and care you need; You haven’t paid your fees within 42 days after they fall due for reasons within your control; or

If you intentionally cause serious damage to the aged care home or to another resident or employees.