Needing Aged Care Support?

Frequently asked questions

• What is residential aged care?

  Residential aged care is an essential part of Australia’s healthcare system, providing around-the-clock care to frail, older people who are living with complex conditions and are unable to live at home and care for themselves.

  The majority of residential aged care homes receive government funding to provide care and are accredited by the responsible government body, The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (the Commission).

  While living in an aged care home (also sometimes known as nursing homes) people receive care focused on helping maintain and improve their quality of life and this includes clinical care (including dementia care and palliative care), support with personal care as well as providing nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and activities to support overall wellbeing.

  At Estia Health we provide all of these services which can be accessed for  short-term respite care or as  long-term care as a permanent resident.

• Who is eligible for residential aged care?

  If someone’s assessed as needing a high level of daily care and support and it can’t be provided with home care support and services, they may be eligible for government-funded residential aged care services.

  This can follow a change in physical or cognitive ability that may have happened gradually or following a fall or event and a hospital stay. It can also be if someone no longer has access to the same level of care and support they have been receiving from a family member or friend.

  To qualify for an assessment for eligibility, there are some needs-based and age requirements.
  • How much assistance is needed with everyday tasks
  • Being 65 years or older (50 years or older for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people).

  My Aged Care is a portal, established by the Australian Government to help people find and access the right level of government-funded aged care services. The My Aged Care’s eligibility checker only takes a few minutes to complete and can give an idea of eligibility to access subsidised residential aged care.

  If you’re not eligible or waiting for funded services to become available, you can access privately funded services at any time and pay the full costs yourself.

  Call us today on 1300 682 833 and our client relations team will talk you through the different stages.

• How much does residential aged care cost?

  This is dependent on each aged care home, the services offered and each individual’s means to pay for these fees and charges. This is determined via an assessment of income and assets (means assessment) completed by Services Australia  which will determine if any of the costs you’re required to pay will be subsidised by the government.

  The fees for aged care include:
  • Basic daily fee: which everyone pays for the day-to-day services they will receive while living in an aged care home
  • Means-tested care fee: a contribution that some people pay toward the cost of their care, determined by a means assessment, with the remainder subsidised by the government
  • Accommodation costs: an amount that some people pay to contribute towards or cover the full costs of their room, depending on their means assessment, with the remainder subsidised by the government
  • Additional services: which are unique to each aged care home and provide additional premium services on top of the standard care offered. Our Enhanced services include additional food options, special meal and entertainment events and access to services like Foxtel

  Visit our understanding costs page for more information.

• What does residential aged care provide?

  Residential aged care provides around-the-clock clinical, social and spiritual care and support for people in an aged care home (in the past sometimes known as nursing homes).

  At Estia Health, all our homes have clinical Care Directors leading a team of nurses, who are rostered on duty 24 hours a day and play a key role in the safety and wellbeing of residents in our care as they coordinate, deliver and monitor increasingly complex health needs. This includes coordinating care with health partners including a resident’s GP and allied health services like physiotherapy, which is all provided while living in the home. Visit our clinical care page for more information.

  All other aspects of daily care are included, such as support with day-to-day tasks such as personal care, showering, dressing, and offering activities and hobbies to support the resident’s ongoing social connections and reduce feelings of isolation. Good nutrition also plays a vital role in the health and wellbeing of older people and with food such an important part in all our lives, at Estia Health all our homes have chefs that are passionate about providing nutritious, meals daily based on resident preferences. Visit our food and nutrition page for more information.

• Why is aged care important?

  Aged care is an essential healthcare service, supporting older, often vulnerable people. Aged care services can be offered in a home, with people accessing different services and packages that best meet their needs or in residential aged care, like an Estia Health home, which is usually when people can no longer care safely live at home and require around-the-care and support for all areas of their wellbeing.

  The majority of aged care services in Australia are subsidised by the government to ensure all people have access to aged care services when they need them.

• Are Estia Health homes government accredited?

  As a residential aged provider in Australia receiving government funding to provide care, we must be accredited by the responsible government body, The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (the Commission).

  The process for accreditation involves an assessment that takes place every three years, or more regularly if the Commission has concerns, which can take place as unplanned visits.

  When the Commission team visits one of our homes, they will assess the home and care delivered against eight minimum standards called the Aged Care Standards. This assesses whether residents are treated with respect, the nursing home is providing safe and effective clinical care and employees have adequate qualifications and training to do their jobs.

  When you visit and tour one of our homes, please ask the team for information on the home’s compliance to meeting the Aged Care Standards and our customer experience reports .