BaptistCare - Communities for Life.

How Do I Access These Services?

Making the decision to move either yourself or a loved one into Aged Care Services can be one of the most difficult decisions a person will make. Knowing how to find out all the information you need to make an informed choice can be very confusing, time consuming and stressful – making what is already a difficult time even more painful.

This page is designed to simplify the process of entry into Aged Care Services so that you and your loved ones can make the best decision for yourselves.

I need to place myself or a loved one into Residential Aged Care. Where do I begin?

Your first step is to talk to the person’s doctor. Ask for a referral to an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). This is a team of health professionals, usually located at your nearest public hospital, that will meet with the person needing care to assess that person’s needs.

It may be that the person does not need to enter a Residential Aged Care Facility, but would instead benefit from Aged Care at Home services that enable them to stay at home with support. A person cannot enter a government funded Residential Aged Care Facility or be eligible for government funded Home Care Services without first being assessed by an ACAT.

Apart from your doctor, there are many Government and community agencies listed on our Resources page that can provide you with useful information.

What types of Residential Aged Care are there?

• Low Level Care is suitable for mobile people who may require assistance with personal hygiene, dressing, laundry, cooking, shopping, or the supervision of their medication.
• High Level Care provides 24 hour nursing for residents who are often in the later stages of dementia and require full time care.
• 'Ageing in Place' is an arrangement with the Commonwealth to allow people to transition from Low Level Care to High Level Care as their needs increase without having to move from one home to another.

Can I choose which Residential Aged Care Facility I enter?

Once the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) has determined the level of care needed by the person, they will recommend appropriate types of residential care, and provide names and addresses of suitable facilities for the carer to visit and choose from.

As applications will usually have to be made to several facilities, it may be necessary to visit a number of places. If possible, take a friend or family member on the visits. Trust your intuition and common sense when assessing accommodation for a person.

Once a place becomes available in a Residential Aged Care Facility a decision may need to be made very quickly, so it is helpful for the carer to plan the move in advance. Ensuring that the person’s room has as many familiar items as possible may help with the change. Family photos, familiar prints or paintings on the wall, and familiar bed coverings can make the new room look a little more like their own bedroom at home.