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Security of tenure
Your place in an aged care home is secure, but there are some circumstances under which you may leave the home, or may be asked to leave the home.
There might be several reasons why you would 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 wish to move to another home if you accepted a vacancy in a home that was not your first choice, and you are notified of a vacancy in the home you prefer.
Read more: Can I move to another home?
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. You may have to pay more for for any extra overnight stays.
If you have to spend time in hospital, your place at the home will be kept for you until your return. While you’re away, you will continue to pay the daily fee.
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: The Resident Agreement
The reasons that 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 currently 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, or
- 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.
Common questions on this topic:
- My parents are thinking of moving into an aged care home. Will they be able to share a room?
- The home Dad is in has just been given extra-service status. We can't afford any extra fees. Will Dad have to move?
See more common questions on this topic | See all common questions