Finding a High Care Nursing Home Place

[kengillard]

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?

[kengillard]

thanks Az.   Transition care seems to be pulling their collective fingers out, now that there's only 3 weeks to go ....thanks for your continuing help. xx

[azureline**]

applications for them are basic, you need the ACAT assessment, (get copies) the POA and Guardianship copies, and basic info, date of birth, name etc, medicare number, pension CRN,  it looks scarey but it isn't.

At some point you also need to write a little story about his life, what he did, where he worked, what he likes, his family history, things that are important to him so the staff "know who he used to be"

Some of his belongings to have in his room etc.

Gill I am happy to offer any info I can. I had lots of help from CS people when I started this, it was great just to be armed with that info!

[lyndal1838]

You need the originals of the POA and Guardianship orders when you actually accept a placement in a nursing home.  Copies are OK for attaching to applications.  If you can get the copies notorised it would probably be helpful.

[azureline**]

I did not use originals, the solicitor holds them, we have copies? The only ones who required a certified copy were the bank and the real estate agent.

I sent copies with the applications and was not asked for originals?

[punch*drunk]

Same here, we only needed copies of poa etc. all the questions about likes dislikes were done when he'd moved in and I sat down with the nurses and went through everything from what he likes to be called to how he likes his coffee and what he has on his toast for brekky.

Like az said, the forms are much easier to fill out than they appear. Just make sure you have all the supporting documents. I looked online for car/caravan values and included print outs as well as insurance documents. The more info you provide the less chance they'll need to be chasing you up for more and holding things up

[lyndal1838]

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@azureline** wrote:

I did not use originals, the solicitor holds them, we have copies? The only ones who required a certified copy were the bank and the real estate agent.

I sent copies with the applications and was not asked for originals?

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Yes, the original POA was held in the solicitors office.  When Dad was going in for surgery we realised that his Guardianship order had not been changed after Mum died so I requested the solicitor to draw up a new one.  He asked if there was any action required on the POA but I said no as it had already been actioned with the bank, health fund, insurance company etc. 

He was stunned as he said the original had never left his office.

He explained that to put it into action the original must be produced and witnessed by the bank or whoever is accepting it.  Once all the notifications have been done it is best to have the copy available in case you need to argue the point with a staff member who wants to be officious.

If anyone wanted to challenge a POA or Guardianship order it would go against the other party and the institution if a copy had been used to put it into effect.

Just trying to save Gill any unwanted stress if someone wants to be officious....it is very easy to produce the original initially and subsequently keep the copy handy for subsequent use if necessary.

[azureline**]

Just a question about that? how do you produce the original? if the solicitor holds it?

When I had my mum's, we had the original, which was registered.

As he is in NSW, we had to ask the solicitor (and pay) to take it to the bank to be sighted.

[cherry*135]

I can't see solicitors handing over the original POA to family members etc, what if they never returned it, lost it etc?

As az said, if the solicitor (or his staff) took the original to the bank or whereever it was required that makes sense, as they are not losing control over the document.

[punch*drunk]

I have certified copies. That has been sufficient for anyone I've needed to show it to. In many cases I've faxed or emailed it. The bank didn't want to hold a copy of it either, but I had dad with me and he approved me as a signatory on the account. It was easier that way.

[punch*drunk]

I had to collect the copies in person and show id too. They wouldn't post them or hand them to anyone else.