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Moving in
What happens if I’m offered a place?
If you decide to accept the offer of a place, this is what you need to do:
- Complete Part B of the application form (more information) (if you haven’t already done it) and give it to the aged care home, together with your acceptance of the offer. The application form, found in the 5 Steps to Entry into Residential Aged Care, is not the only form that you may use. The aged care home may also provide you with a different application form.
- The manager of the home should then offer you a Resident Agreement (more information). This is a formal agreement between you and the aged care home and should be offered to you before you move in.
- You don’t have to sign the agreement until after you move in, but if the agreement includes accommodation payments (more information), it will need to be signed within 21 days of you moving into the home.
- Before signing, you might wish to ask your solicitor and/or your financial adviser to look at the agreement.
What if I can’t move in straight away?
If you accept the offer of a place in an aged care home, but cannot move in immediately:
- the home may hold a place for up to seven days, but
- you may be charged for care from the date you accept the place.
What support will be available?
Moving into an aged care home can be a stressful and emotional time for you, your carer, your family and your friends. Ask your home what support they provide, such as counselling or ‘buddy systems’ to help you settle in.
When you move in, let the manager know if you need help to cope with the changes you are experiencing, and what sort of help you will need.
Your carer, your family or a friend might wish to stay with you in the home for a while as you familiarise yourself with your surroundings.
Who should I let know that I am moving in?
You may wish to give your new address at the home to:
- your doctor
- your community nurse, or community care provider
- Meals on Wheels and any other community support services you’ve been using
- government agencies (Centrelink, Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Australian Taxation Office, Australia Post for redirection of mail, Australian Electoral Commission for the electoral roll)
- Medicare
- your private medical insurance company
- your superannuation company
- the roads and transport authority in your state or territory (for your drivers licence)
- your bank, building society or credit union, and
- other aged care homes you applied to.
If you’re a pensioner, part-pensioner or veteran and you have made changes to your financial circumstances (such as by paying a bond), notify Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs , who will update your income and asset details.
You may also wish to:
- organise financial matters, such as how fees and charges will be paid, or appoint a professional adviser or relative to take care of this (the Resident Agreement may cover such arrangements)
- arrange to have your medical history sent to the doctor who will care for you in the home, if your doctor cannot visit you there.
