Aged Care Regulation changes to Resident Classifications on 1 July 2014

[azureline**]

Anyone who is putting off placement in nursing homes needs to consider the impact after that date and do it now! It won't affect current residents. I was told on Saturday that new residents in high and low care will need a bond of between $250,00 and $450,000.

The aged care regulation changes in Aged Care (Living Longer Living Better) Act removes the distinction between Low Care and High Care effective from 1 July 2014.

This means that all Commonwealth regulated aged care homes will be able to accept any potential aged care recipient who has been assessed as needing residential care. Families will no longer have to wait for the final ACAS of High Care or Low Care before applying for an aged care place for someone who clearly is not able to come home.

Previously a person with an ACAS of ‘Low Care’ had to find a place in a Low Care facility, an aged care ‘hostel’ in the old language. New ‘Low Care’ residents could be asked for an Accommodation Bond on entry to permanent residential care.

Until June 2014, a person with an ACAS of ‘High Care’ has to find a place in a High Care facility, a ‘nursing home’ in the old language. New entrants to the aged care system coming direct from home or hospital into standard Commonwealth regulated High Care could be levied a modest daily Accommodation Charge on permanent entry by 30 June 2014.

Beware, all new entrants to Extra Service aged care facilities could be asked for a substantial Accommodation Bond on entry to permanent residential care. A daily Extra Service Fee is payable for any Extra Service aged care placement.

[punch*drunk]

Thanks az, I heard there were some changes coming and wondered what they were. The fees mentioned seem the same as what they were though, bond for low care, accomodation charge for high care, extra fee for extra care....that bit doesnt seem any different really.

I'm glad they are making it a bit easier to get people in straight from hospital withour a final ACAS report.

[azureline**]

The changes mean bond for both high care and low care.

[lakeland27]

i hope nembutal becomes more widely available.

[bella_again]

Wow and where do they get that kind of money from? Esp those who don't own houses.  That is a lot to have to fork out. 

[bella_again]

Gosh Lakeland, I'm sure the government would love to allow senior cits to line up for a free dose, esp those sick or disabled and no longer paying taxes.  Apologies for the remark but seriously you have to wonder.....

[azureline**]

Bella, as I understand it, if someone has no assetts, they will still be funded by the Government who will pay the supplement per month. I can see very few places, in quality care,  being available for that though 😞

[hahahavefun]

I work in age care and last week at a meeting we were told that changes were going to happen and they are there will no longer be sections called , High Care , Low Care or S-pecial Care it will all just be aged care . I work in Low Care so i asked so we could get someone in that is a High Care resident thats going to need a lot more care then Low Care residents what will happen to the staffing and the answer was staffing will be looked at .

My building is only 2 yrs old and very lovely and all single rooms so if someone who is needing high care has the money to go into this area they can do apparently .

[boris1gary]

When i hear friends banging on about how they have all this super and a couple of houses so their kid/s will be millionaires when they die, I think, no probably not - unless you die before needing aged care.  Can only speak for my area and it's atrocious, extremely expensive and sad as.  

[azureline**]

The Home my FIL is in is going to be moving towards palliative care but doesn't affect the current residents. They have not seemed to increase staff levels as yet. I suspect they will need to.

Nice to hear positive comments.