topic Re: Finding a High Care Nursing Home Place in Community Spirit

Finding a High Care Nursing Home Place

kengillard — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 04:08:46 GMT

I'm in the process of finding a placement for my OH, who has dementia, in a High Care Nursing home. It's all new and confusing to me and frustrating....so thought I'd ask if anyone is interested in my day to day inquiries and answers I've found (or not!) Might make it easier for someone else when it comes to their time to do the same?

Re: Finding a High Care Nursing Home Place

*crikey*mate* — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 04:10:52 GMT

Best of luck with your journey Gil.

Re: Finding a High Care Nursing Home Place

lyndal1838 — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 04:19:36 GMT

I am sure there will be many who are interested Gill....if not immediately it is handy information for the future.

And there are probably many who will be able to make a few suggestions based on their own experiences.

To that end I will start the ball rolling.....keep in contact with the ACAT team. My father went from hospital to a high care nursing home near us in just 6 days because of the efforts of a very caring ACAT team at our local hospital.

Re: Finding a High Care Nursing Home Place

punch*drunk — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 04:51:20 GMT

Oh dear, he's high care already? That seems to have come on quite quickly.

My dad is full time in low care now, we thought for a time he may need high care, but its amazing how much better he is just from being cared for day to day rather than having to remember to feed himself and take his medication. Its a bit like a weight has lifted off his shoulders and he's actually bounced back a little.

Sometimes I can visit and chat to him like there's no difference and I wonder why we've put him there, today was one of those days 🙂 Then I see him play the word games in there and he can only find three 3-letter words from a bunch of 9 letters or he starts telling me the same story over and over or he just has the blank, almost forgetting who people are look 😞 and its really sad.

I hope you can find somewhere he can settle into and be happy ♥

Re: Finding a High Care Nursing Home Place

purplecarrot-top — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 05:08:56 GMT

Gill i hope all goes well for you and OH. Very sad time for you both.

I think a lot would be iinterested in the process of. So please let us know how things go.

Re: Finding a High Care Nursing Home Place

jean2579 — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 05:09:28 GMT

Look afteer yourslef too.

Re: Finding a High Care Nursing Home Place

kengillard — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 05:16:34 GMT

thanks everyone. he's been in hospital for 4 weeks while they tried to stabilise his blood sugar levels.(diabetic) didn't work...then they assessed him (ACAT) for being "suitable" for rehab at a nursing home...he's been there for 4 weeks, and is entititled to stay there for 12 weeks. we have to pay for it. All efforts to retrain him for his incontinence have failed so they told me and my daughter this week that he needs High Care in a nursing home. So we have 8 weeks to try and find him a place we can afford. Private places are not in my budget....( even tho we've had priv. health insurance for 30 years)...

Our only income is our pensions so it's proving difficult. will keep you all informed.

Re: Finding a High Care Nursing Home Place

freddie*rooster — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 05:17:37 GMT

It's such a sad disease, to see vibrant healthy loving people fade away.

Re: Finding a High Care Nursing Home Place

kengillard — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 05:19:25 GMT

yes Freddie...our daughter is particularly cut up about this. I've be expecting it for about 2/3 years so no surprise to me, but she seems to only have just taken it all in.

Re: Finding a High Care Nursing Home Place

kengillard — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 05:21:34 GMT

a lady at our c hemist said to me a few weeks ago, not to be surprised if I don't feel anything much when I get a final diagnosis, as I've been grieving for years. she's right. not to say I'm not very sad, but I've accepted this is the way it's going to be

Re: Finding a High Care Nursing Home Place

punch*drunk — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 05:34:33 GMT

Gill there shouldnt be any bond for a high care place and the fees are usually set at something like 85% of the pension, are the places you looked at asking more than that? I havent looked at the paperwork for a while, but I thought the prices were government regulated.

My dad is in a private home and we only had a third of the bond that they normally require and my sister is quite friendly with many of the residents and a lot of them have paid even less than my dad did.

Is he getting a seperate pension to you now?

Re: Finding a High Care Nursing Home Place

freddie*rooster — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 06:03:17 GMT

I've just recently taken over my Mother's POA.

She paid $220,000 bond when she moved into the Nursing Home.

The home takes $307.50 each month over 5yrs from the bond, they hold the remainder of the bond until it's transferred to the estate upon her death.

Every month they take approx $1,500.00 from Mum's savings account for her fees.

Mum is low care.

Re: Finding a High Care Nursing Home Place

punch*drunk — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 06:18:15 GMT

Sounds much the same as dad freddie. He only paid $117000 bod because they couldnt use his house as my grandfather still lives there and they have to leave you with $43,000 of assets/savings.

31 days of care is $1380, his pension is something like $1620 a month, so theres a little bit left over.

High care should be different though, daily rate should be similar but there shouldnt be a bond. Also, there are some government subsidies. Have the ACAT team discussed all that with you Gill?

I know the paperwork re fees is a bit overwhelming and confusing at first, but once you get your head around it its not that complicated. I'll dig out the government fee schedule later and refresh my memory.

Re: Finding a High Care Nursing Home Place

kengillard — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 08:03:43 GMT

thanks punch....all too much at the moment. just taking it a day at a time

Re: Finding a High Care Nursing Home Place

kengillard — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 08:14:36 GMT

thanks Lyndal. they haven't done the ACAT assessment yet. so have to wait for that. I have to go to the rehab place to "sign off" on it as I have POA...Power of Attorney. They will let me know.

Re: Finding a High Care Nursing Home Place

punch*drunk — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 08:22:20 GMT

It is overwhelming. I'm surprised you don't have acat yet. They should be able to help you immensely. I thought the hospital would have helped with that. I'm pretty sure you can even contact centrelink aged care section for help and advice if necessary.

Re: Finding a High Care Nursing Home Place

punch*drunk — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 08:25:01 GMT

Just reread that are you still waiting for acat? Gee they're taking their time aren't they

Re: Finding a High Care Nursing Home Place

azureline** — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 10:46:27 GMT

Some high care places can and do charge a bond. I queried this and was told by the manager that they can do this if their accomodation is "hotel" like. Offering better furnishings etc.

Proximity to you will be the issue Gill but if you can find a place a bit distant from you, take it and put his name down at closer places.

We did not want to move my FIL recently as they say it unsettles them but honestly, his quality of life and his general well being and care is vastly improved now.

Call every nursing home in your area, ask if they have vacancies in high care and your acat is pending.

Re: Finding a High Care Nursing Home Place

freakiness — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 11:02:55 GMT

@kengillard wrote:
thanks everyone. he's been in hospital for 4 weeks while they tried to stabilise his blood sugar levels.(diabetic) didn't work...then they assessed him (ACAT) for being "suitable" for rehab at a nursing home...he's been there for 4 weeks, and is entititled to stay there for 12 weeks. we have to pay for it. All efforts to retrain him for his incontinence have failed so they told me and my daughter this week that he needs High Care in a nursing home. So we have 8 weeks to try and find him a place we can afford. Private places are not in my budget....( even tho we've had priv. health insurance for 30 years)...
Our only income is our pensions so it's proving difficult. will keep you all informed.

Best wishes in your search. I hope you find somewhere nice and caring close to home.

Re: Finding a High Care Nursing Home Place

azureline** — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 11:13:50 GMT

They will not assess your home as part of his assetts (as you live there) so they should only take 85% of his pension for the fee.

FIL 's care is $851.76 plus $912.60 per fortnight (as he owns his home and no one else lives in it.)

Chemist bill is about $60 pm.