Frequently asked questions
FAQ for Aged Care
Wesley Mission Brisbane Residential Aged Care Communities are specifically designed for people who are no longer able to live at home.
Our Residential Aged Care Communities offer a genuine commitment to maximising quality of life for each and every resident.
How can I gain admission into a Residential Aged Care Community?
You will need an assessment by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). The ACAT's will help you and your family members decide which level of care is most appropriate for your needs.
Your doctor, health centre or local hospital can help you find an ACAT. You can also phone your local Commonwealth Carelink Centre on 1800 052 222 and they can assist you with the information you need.
Someone from the ACAT will visit you in your home or in hospital to assess your needs.
They will talk with you and ask questions about what services you may need and will talk through their assessment with you.
If appropriate they will then arrange referrals to community care services or residential aged care.
What are the different levels and types of care?
Respite Care
This is short-term care and can be on a drop-in or a regular basis. Depending on the facility it may include over night accommodation. Levels of care within respite facilities vary.
Low Care
Low care includes assistance with personal care such as showering and dressing. Nursing care is provided on the occasions it is needed. Low Care accommodation used to be called hostels.
High Care
Once called nursing homes, these facilities offer a greater level of care for people who require a higher level of assistance to maintain their health and wellbeing.
Ageing in Place
This means that you may be able to remain in the same location or within the same community as your care needs change.
Extra Services
Two of our high care facilities, Anam Cara and Parkview, provide residents with the option of paying an accommodation bond and a higher daily fee and receiving additional benefits. Depending on the facility these services might include:
- additional choice of menu items
- beer and red or white wine at lunch and evening meals
- additional individual or group exercise programs
- additional special event outings
- gold class or in-house cinema experiences
- computer access.
Do I have to pay for aged care?
The Federal Government provides a level of funding directly to the Aged Care Community you choose to live in but the government does also expect the person receiving care, to make a financial contribution.
There are both daily fees and accommodation payments (Accommodation Bond or Accommodation Charge) to be made and these vary depending upon your level of income and assets. It is important to know that no matter what your financial position is you can afford aged care services.
It is best to talk with us about the type of fees you can expect.
Financial Assessment
When you move into a Residential Aged Care Community your income will be assessed by a Federal Government department, Centrelink, so the government can decide whether you need to pay an accommodation bond or accommodation charge. If you are receiving a pension you will not have to complete another assessment.
Your assets will also be assessed and you will need to complete a Request for an Assets Assessment form. You can ask for this from the Aged Care Assessment Team or call the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853 and they will send the form to you.
For an overview of all this information and the necessary forms you can also request a pack called 5 Steps to Entry into Residential Aged Care. This pack will outline:
- assessing your eligibility (ACAT assessment)
- finding a home
- working out the cost
- applying
- moving and settling in.
This pack, as well as a lot of other useful information, can be found at the Department of Health and Ageing website www.health.gov.au or can be requested from the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853.
Please also feel free to contact any of our Residential Aged Care Communities directly on the numbers provided.
