Supported Residential Services

The SRS manager or personal care coordinator will know how to access these services or you can ask your local council or community health service.

Respite

Most SRS provide respite care and while they charge for respite they do not require a formal assessment by the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT).

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) provides its gold and white card holders who have been assessed through its Veterans’ Home Care program with 28 days of respite per annum in an SRS.

The DVA also covers the full cost for convalescent care at an SRS.

Up to three weeks convalescent care per annum is available after a hospital stay.

Other state based community services may provide full or partial funding for respite at an SRS.

What should I look for in an SRS?

A good SRS:

Provides for your needs

Respects your individuality and promotes independence

Provides a supportive environment for you and your family and friends

Invites input from you, your family and friends about the care and services you receive Uses current practices to care for and support you.

Costs

All fees and charges you have to pay, as well as how any changes to fees and charges will be conveyed to you, must be included in your residential and services agreement.

Costs can vary greatly, depending on the standard of accommodation, whether you have a single or shared room, and the services you need.

The only fees and charges an SRS can ask you to pay are:

Fees for accommodation and personal support services – these are not set by the Government and can range from most or all of your pension plus rent assistance per week to $1,000 or more per week.

Security deposits – these cover any damage by you or your visitors, or unpaid fees. The most that can be charged is one month’s fees.

Fees in advance – these are payments made before due date but the most the proprietor can accept is the equivalent of one month’s fees. Reservation fees – this might be charged if you wish a proprietor to keep a place for your in the SRS until you move in, but it can’t be more than two weeks’ fees.

An establishment fee – covers the cost of assessing your needs and setting up your support plan and can’t be more than two weeks’ fees.

Items or services purchased at the SRS – some SRS charge a single fee to cover all your needs and others will charge a basic fee and you pay for optional extras like hairdressing.