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No longer able to stay at home?
Having a condition that’s severe or likely to worsen does not necessarily mean that residential care will be required. In fact, people who are highly dependent often manage quite well at home with the support of a carer, family, friends and community services.
However, if you’re finding it difficult to look after yourself in your home and it’s not possible for your carers to meet your daily needs, you may consider applying for residential care in an aged care home. This is generally a very difficult decision to make for everyone concerned, so it’s important that you become familiar with all your options.
Contacting your Aged Care Assessment Team
Your first step is to contact an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT or ACAS in Victoria) (more information). You will be given a free assessment (more information) by a team member, who will discuss the level of support you require and help you consider your options. To contact an ACAT in your location phone 1800 500 853 or the Commonwealth Carelink Centre on 1800 052 222.
Read more: Being assessed
5 Steps to Entry into Residential Aged Care booklet
There are key signs indicating that home care is becoming difficult, including immobility, severe incontinence, challenging behaviours, communication problems and significant thinking, planning and memory difficulties.
The government has published a booklet titled 5 Steps to Entry into Residential Aged Care, which will help you, your family, carers or friends to understand:
- what residential aged care is and how to find out whether you are eligible to receive it
- how to apply for a place in a residential aged care home, and the type of information required to do this, and
- what to expect once you’ve accepted a place and moved into a residential aged care home.
The ACAT can provide you with the booklet or you can download this booklet. If you need help understanding the information, telephone the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853, or a Commonwealth Carelink Centre (more information) on 1800 052 222.
You can also get more information by talking to your doctor, an aged care organisation, or some community groups in your area. If you’re a carer you can also call the Commonwealth Carer Resource Centre on 1800 242 636 for more information and support.
Common questions on this topic:
- What if I'm not sure whether I need to move to an aged care home?
- I really can't manage at home any more. What can I do?
- Do I need an assessment?
See more common questions on this topic | See all common questions
