Accommodation Facilities

Housing and accommodation is very important to us all, but the issue is especially amplified with age. Older people are often more restricted in their accommodation options for many different reasons, such as physical incapacity, the cost associated, widowhood, caring arrangements and various other reasons.

• Aged Care Facilities

  • High Care

  • Low care

• Who pays for aged care homes?

• What is a retirement village?

Aged Care Facilities

Two broad types of aged care exist:

High Care

This is for people who need 24 hour nursing care as they may be unable to physically move and care for themselves, or it is because they have severe dementia type of an illness.

Low care

This is for people who need some help but are still able to do certain things on their own. Low care normally focuses on personal care services such as dressing, bathing and eating. It can also include accommodation, support services and health services.

In order to know which type of care a person needs, an assessment by an Aged Care Assessment Team need to be arranged, especially if the person wishes to have access to government-funded assistance.

Back to top

Who pays for aged care homes?

The Federal Government provides considerable funding to aged care homes, however, most residents will have to pay a number of fees and charges to the home. Which are calculated based on the persons income and assets.

These fees are set by the government include:

• Daily care fees; and

• Accommodation payments.

Back to top

What is a retirement village?

It is complex of residential premises that is predominantly or exclusively used by retired people, who have entered into retirement village contracts with the operators of the complex.

If you wish to live in a retirement village it is important for you to know your rights, namely that the operator of the retirement must provide you with a disclosure statement 14 days before entering into the contract.

A disclosure statement must include information of the village's facilities and services, the recurrent charges, ongoing contributions, financial information, departure fees etc.

Another important right is that of the settling in period. If you find that you do not like your new home there is a 90 day settling in period. It means that if you vacate the unit within the first 90 days of moving in, you will only have to pay the fair market rent for the time you spent in the unit, and any other administration costs that may be set out in the contract.

If you are considering moving to a aged care facility, retirement village or any other facility please contact us for further advice about your rights and responsibilities. We we can help you every step of the way. If you are already in a retirement village and no longer wish to be there we can also offer help and advice.

Back to top

If you would like more information or advice about issues concerning accommodation and aged care facilities. Complete and submit the Express Enquiry form on the top right hand side of this page and we will contact you to discuss your enquiry  or call us on 1300 QUINNS (1300 784 667) or on +61 2 9223 9166 to arrange an appointment.