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How long can I stay?
Your place in an aged care home is secure, but there are some circumstances under which you may choose to leave the home, or may be asked to leave.
There are several reasons why you might leave one aged care home and move to another. One is if the care you need changes significantly, and your present home is not able to provide the right care. This might happen if you need much more nursing support, and so are assessed as requiring a move from low-level (more information) to high-level (more information) care.
You might also wish to move to another home if you accepted a vacancy in a home that was not your first choice, and you are then notified of a vacancy in the home you prefer.
Read more: Can I move to another home?
Related topic: About security of tenure
You may leave the home at any time for up to 52 overnight stays each financial year, so that you can have a holiday or spend time with family or friends. If you would like to have more leave than the 52 overnight stays, you should discuss it with the manager of your aged care home.
It is important that you know about the circumstances under which an aged care home may ask you to leave the home. (These circumstances should be written into your resident agreement (more information)).
Read more: About the Resident Agreement
The circumstances under which you may be asked to move to another home are:
- your current aged care home is closing;
- the aged care home no longer has accommodation and care suitable for you and your long term needs, and the home has not agreed to provide care of the kind that you now need;
- you no longer need the care provided through the home;
- you have not paid an agreed fee to the home within 42 days after the day when it is due, for a reason within your control;
- you intentionally caused:
- serious damage to the aged care home
- serious injury to the approved provider (if the approved provider is an individual), or
- serious injury to an employee of the aged care home, or to another care recipient.
If you do have to move, the reason for the move should be one that has been agreed to under your Resident Agreement and you should be given notice in writing 14 days before you would leave the home. The home should help you find alternative accommodation that meets your assessed long-term needs and is affordable to you.
If you are concerned about being asked to move, or about how your move is being managed, you may wish to contact the Complaints Investigation Scheme (more information) on 1800 550 552.
Read more: How do I make a complaint?
Common questions on this topic:
- How do I find out more about residential care?
- Why do people with dementia experience bladder control problems?
See more common questions on this topic | See all common questions