Residential Services - FAQs

The website information, (Applications page, Residential Living and Residential Services) and frequently asked questions outline the process involved.

Alternatively, you may telephone +61 8 8373 0211 to inquire.

Resthaven is more than a retirement village. Resthaven's core business is to provide care services for older people, such as residential and home based care. High or low care in either residential facilities or in the home requires a government assessment.

Retirement villages offer an independent lifestyle. Resthaven offers independent living unit accommodation in one or two bedroom units at our Bellevue Heights, Marion, Paradise and Malvern facilities. Click here for a virtual tour.

People inquiring about independent living should contact the Independent Living Unit Coordinator on 8370 3756 during business hours and visit the Independent Living page on this website. Anyone aged 60 or over and able to live independently may inquire about purchasing a ‘Licence to Occupy’ a unit. A fortnightly maintenance fee covers council rates, maintenance and gardening services.

Independent living unit residents are given priority of access to vacancies in Resthaven's residential aged care facilities should their health needs require higher levels of assistance.

Independent Living residents are welcome to inquire about the range Resthaven’s of in-home care and support services and self management programs for older people and their carers. Resthaven incorporates the principles of self management to help older people stay at home longer by learning strategies and management techniques to deal with such things as falls, arthritis, continence issues, Parkinson’s disease, aphasia and many other chronic conditions.

Visit our Community Services page.

Discuss any health concerns with your General Practitioner, and where appropriate, ask for a referral to Resthaven’s Therapy Services, phone: 1300 136 633

Therapy Services run support groups for people with Parkinson’s disease, memory loss, increased falls, speech difficulties following a stroke, etc as well as individual assistance with continence issues, counselling, physiotherapy, speech pathology, occupational therapy and podiatry.

Therapy services provide opportunities to learn skills and strategies to improve quality of life, information about the condition and self management, along with formal therapeutic treatments. Visit our Rehab and Therapy page for more detail.

For those needing assistance at home, Resthaven’s range of in-home care and support services extend from a little help for a few hours a week to extended aged care at home packages. As a contracted Veterans’ Home Care and Home Nursing provider, eligible veterans and their families can also receive assistance at home. Visit our Community Services page for more detail.

We aim to help people identify their goals and build on strengths, to improve their quality of life. In each situation, we assess and develop a plan with each client that brings the things they are able to do along with the things which our home support workers or health professional staff (nurses, therapists) can offer,to work out the steps that allow successful self management. It is a ‘person centred’ approach to empower people to do what they can, with assistance when needed.

Every person’s circumstances differ and will be determined individually.

All not for profit aged care service providers are required to accommodate financially disadvantaged people - at least 20% of their total residents. Resthaven usually has closer to 35% overall (up to 50-60% at some sites). Financially disadvantaged people do not have to pay a bond, but the government pays a ‘financial supplement’ on their behalf.

There are two types of charges related to care accommodation in a residential aged care facility.

1. One relates to the services provided to individuals (recurrent costs), adjusted according to the personal care needs of individuals in care.
   
   
2. The other relates to the accommodation in which they live (capital cost), such as the accommodation charge component for a person residing in a low care aged care facility (previously known as hostel care).

In addition to the means tested daily fees that are prescribed by the government, bonds are charged for low care and are invested. The interest earned is used by Resthaven to upgrade accommodation to current standards. No government grants are received for capital upgrades, which is why bonds are essential.

Residents who are not financially disadvantaged usually choose the option of paying what is called an accommodation bond (as against a daily charge option, called a periodic payment). The accommodation bond is due and payable on the day of admission to care. Should there be a delay between a resident’s admission and receipt of the bond, an interest equivalent may be charged on the unpaid bond until payment is received. The interest equivalent charged by Resthaven is in accordance with government guidelines and is compensation for income that would have been earned had the bond been paid.

The bond is an interest free deposit to the aged care provider (Resthaven) and there is a deduction from the bond, called a retention, for each month (for a maximum of five years) that a person lives in the accommodation. Similar systems exist in the Retirement Village Industry, where a contribution is made to the cost of accommodation.

Should a resident depart, the bond is paid back following receipt of probate if applicable, minus any outstanding interest and retentions, plus any interest paid by Resthaven on the bond from the day of the vacancy until repayment.

All fees and charges are outlined in a formal agreement and discussed in detail prior to admission. We are always willing to clarify any issues raised with us directly.

High care residents may be required to pay an accommodation charge or retain their bond if moving from low to high care.

For more information, please visit our Applications page or view the following pdf documents:

Aged Care Fee Structure for Low Care (PDF 51 kb).
Aged Care Fee Structure for High Care (PDF 40 kb).

Please note that the Aged Care Fee Structure is subject to change. All copies available via the website are current to the date indicated on the form. For further information on residential aged care fees and charges access the Australian Government, Department of Health and Ageing website.

For information about Accommodation Bonds, please refer to the Department of Health and Ageing's Accommodation Bonds for Residential Aged Care.

The links below provide information about deeming and gifting provisions, the terms used under the Social Security Act. Professional advice ought to be obtained about the effect and nature of provisions which may affect the extent of entitlements available to an individual.

Accommodation Vacancies
View current accommodation vacancies.

When seeking assistance with day to day living at Resthaven, there is usually a wait varying from a few weeks to up to several months for residential care, depending on the preferred location. The process is initially to contact the Admissions Officer on (08) 8373 9123 or email: inquiries@resthaven.asn.au to discuss the individual situation. For further information see the Residential Services links to the left.

Rooms are allocated on the basis of individual need and the suitability of any vacancy to each person’s situation.

High and low dependency care require an assessment by the government Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). Apply after the ACAT assessment has been completed, because that dictates the level of care needed. When completed, telephone Resthaven to discuss your situation and we will send out the forms to complete. Alternatively, you can download the application forms here (PDF 233KB).

You may like to access Community Services support while you wait.
For inquiries, phone: 1300 136 633

After this, Resthaven will arrange our own internal assessment. This identifies particular needs that help make the most appropriate placement – as examples, some people require specialised dementia care; some people are not able to walk long distances. Once the application process is complete, we will maintain contact with you regarding vacancies and your current situation.

We encourage people to look at as many facilities as possible. Tours are held monthly at most Resthaven facilities – telephone the receptionist at the site you are interested in to book in for a tour. Please visit Facility Tours for more information.

Current vacancies and telephone contacts are listed on the Accommodation Vacancies page.

In the interim, some respite for carers to have a short 'holiday' may be organised by telephoning the Admissions Officer on (08) 8373 9123 or inquiries@resthaven.asn.au.

The Aged Care Act 1997 (Cth) stipulates that government subsidised residential aged care facilities are certified to ensure appropriate levels of building quality and safety. Resthaven facilities undergo the certification process required by the Australian Government. All facilities meet current certification needs and are upgraded as required.

Unfortunately, personal pets are not permitted at our residential facilities. Some sites have fish, birds, other pets or visiting pets.

Visitors are welcome at any time. As a courtesy, we ask that visitors respect the rights of both residents, clients, staff and volunteers in the facility. Unacceptable behaviour will not be tolerated. After hours security does not preclude visits.

Public transport is available within walking distance.

Please inquire as to the appropriate bus or train service with the Passenger Transport InfoLine on 8210 1000, or visit Adelaide Metro.

Whilst we endeavour to accommodate everyone's preferences, this is not always possible. Resthaven's residential care facilities offer a majority of single rooms, well above minimum government ratio requirements. Most rooms have ensuite bathrooms and those without are in close proximity to bathrooms. There are some double share rooms, which allow for couples or people who prefer to have some company. All Resthaven's low care accommodation (hostel) is in single rooms.

Single room access varies in nursing homes, or high care accommodation. Resthaven's share rooms are two person rooms only. When not accommodating a couple, residents of the same gender only share rooms.

There are some advantages to share rooms:

• They cater well for couples
• They meet the needs of individuals who enjoy the frequent company of others.

Please bring the resident information handbook and other relevant items on admission:

• Pensioner Entitlement or Veterans' Affairs card,
• Pharmaceutical Benefits Card, Medicare Card, Ambulance Card, private health cover details or pensioner health benefits card,
• Access Cab booklet,
• any current prescriptions, medications and medical appointment cards or details;
• Doctor's letter with relevant information, name and 'phone number of a doctor who will care for you at Resthaven, completed medication chart plus other specialist contacts such as dentist and optometrist details;
• Names and addresses of at least two people to contact in an emergency;
• Copies of any Advance Directives, name, address and contact telephone number of those holding enduring Power of Attorney, Enduring Power of Guardianship or Medical Power of Attorney.
• Details of any funeral arrangements and contact details of the Funeral Director.
• All clothes named with sewn on, cloth name tags, or special heat sealed labels, e.g. Bernard Brown, Resthaven Leabrook (please ask for details).
• Completed list of electrical appliances brought with you (e.g. electric kettle, radio, television).
• A small amount of crockery (tea and coffee cups) for visitors and personal use, and a couple of tea towels.
• Favourite chair, bed spread, personal effects.

In order to be eligible to enter an aged care facility a person must have a current ACAT approval. ACAT is Aged Care Assessment Team and the government has allocated ACAT with the ‘gatekeeper’ responsibility to determine what funded services are best suited to an individual. ACAT will send a health professional to review the client’s needs and decide what options are best - high or low care and/or respite options or community assistance.

Referral for an ACAT review can be organised through the doctor, hospital, self referral or from family direct to the Aged Care Assessment team. Whatever avenue is used, an ACAT approval is necessary in order to be considered for residential care.

Each organisation may have some differences in specific forms or documents they require but there are generalities: Application form, copy of current ACAT, medical form completed by GP, and financial information. The financial information determines the level of fees and charges. An asset assessment is not mandatory but the aged care provider will charge the maximum fees if it is not supplied. Asset assessment can be done through Centrelink or DVA.

See Applications for more information.

Prior to admission, it is wise to consider having advance directives in place such as an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA) and Enduring Power of Guardianship (EPOG) as this will mean, in the event of someone being unable to make decisions for themselves about finances, care or lifestyle, they have appointed someone to do so on their behalf with their wishes known.

The importance of preparing a living will

People need to have legally binding directions in place about the fulfillment of their wishes in relation to care and medical treatment.

"Living Wills" are otherwise known as enduring powers of attorney (financial), medical powers of attorney and/or appointments of enduring guardian.

These documents enable a person to give legal authority to the persons of their choice to make decisions about their assets and finances, personal care and medical treatment in accordance with their directions and wishes. They are called living wills because they have effect during a person's life when they have lost their mental capacity to make these decisions for themselves (a financial power of attorney can also be used before a person loses mental capacity).

In a medical power of attorney and/or guardianship apointment, a person is able to include directions not to artificially prolong their life in a clearly terminal situation with things such as feeding tubes, respiratory heart/lung machines and other procedures.

Joe Subic
Partner
Lynch Meyer

As a general explanation:

Low care (hostel) tends to be for a person who may require some degree of assistance, care or services — eg: assistance in showering and dressing,  assistance with medication, may have a health condition that requires some ongoing support services, may require regular guidance because they are forgetful but may still be able to undertake many tasks with some level of independence.

High care (nursing home) accommodation is for the person who has a significant level of frailty and requires a high level of nursing care.

This is a very simplified definition of the two levels as there are varying degrees of individual needs which can cross over into each level.

When an offer of accommodation is made, there will only be given a short time in which to make a decision. When Resthaven makes an offer, we ask the person (if possible) and family to come and view the room. We give people on average 24 hours to reach a decision if they wish to accept.

Once a person accepts the offer, they have up to seven days in which to move in. All residents are entitled to 52 days social leave per year and the government has made an allowance of up to seven days pre-entry leave, which is deducted from the first year’s 52 day entitlement. This allows the person or family a bit of breathing space in which to make arrangements.

• If the person is in hospital and high care (nursing home) is needed, the hospital will usually discharge the patient as soon as their place in the aged care facility is accepted. So admission can occur within 24 hours of acceptance.
• Be aware that providers can commence charging a basic daily fee charge from the time a place is accepted.
• Once admitted, there is unlimited hospital leave and a person cannot be discharged from high care if they are in hospital for a lengthy period. The room remains theirs under Security of Tenure requirements.

All aged care homes are required to provide hotel services for all residents. This covers areas such as buildings and grounds.

• Bedroom furniture and bedding such as bed, mattress, pillows, bed linen: bed side cabinet, chair. These items are to be of an appropriate standard. The resident can bring some or all of their own room items but at Resthaven, high care beds are provided because we have electric beds and this is safer for staff for manual handling reasons.
• Cleaning of rooms and the home is the responsibility of the provider and laundry services must be in place.
• Resident clothing that is machine washable can be done by staff. However, special clothing requiring dry cleaning or handwashing is not an expectation of the home’s laundry.
• All homes usually require resident clothing going to their laundry to be name labelled to ensure that it can be returned to the correct owner.
• Other items provided are toiletry items such as towels, face washers, soap and toilet paper, meals (including special diets), and provision of social activity programs.

Other services available for all who require it are in areas such as:

• Daily living assistance eg: showering, dressing, mobility such as walking or wheelchair use, assistance to fit hearing aids or assistance with eating or using eating aids.
• Emotional support – such as assistance to adjust to their new environment, assistance to access services such as chaplains, community visitors, advocacy services, or counselling services. If a person requires professional counseling, this cost may be borne by the resident.
• Some health treatments and procedures, eg: simple wound dressings, medication assistance.
• Residents pay for their own medications. There is usually a pharmacy that provides services to the home and the residents. Should a resident wish to use a different pharmacy, they are free to make those separate arrangements and payments.
• Assistance to access health services such as dental, hearing, medical, etc.

There are some services that are exclusively supplied to high care residents. These are paid for by the facility and include such items as:

• Toiletry items- toothpaste or denture cleaning preparations, shampoo and conditioner, sanitary pads, tissues.
• Mobility aids such as crutches, walking sticks or frames, wheelchairs
• Continence aids such as commodes, bed pans, and disposable pads
• Special bedding and pressure relieving aids such as sheepskins or bed cradles
• Nursing services, such as for palliative care, and complex wound care. This relates to services requiring a Registered Nurse or other appropriate health professional, such as a speech pathologist or physiotherapist, where they devise the treatment plan, oversee it's delivery, assessing or altering it as required.

This list outlined is not comprehensive but gives an idea of what is required for high care residents.

With any change comes grief or feelings of loss. Moving into residential care is very emotionally challenging for people. It is an indicator that life has changed for the person and their family. Staff will offer support, but it does take time to settle in to a new environment. For some, it may take weeks; for others it may be months or even longer.

It is important to be realistic in your expectations and understand the length of time is an individual thing and it cannot be rushed through. The staff are learning about each resident and what their needs are as well as their likes and dislikes, and this takes time. New residents are learning about their new environment, meeting new people and hopefully developing new friendships and relationships. This can be potentially stressful, so it is important for everyone to work together.

Resthaven has a social worker and chaplains who can (on request) provide extra emotional support during this transition time. This can be of great assistance.

In the first few months, staff will undertake a number of assessments in order to develop a plan of care for the person that meets their needs and provides the support, assistance or services they require. The home will also be eligible to obtain a level of government subsidy based on their assessment outcomes for that person.

Staff should consult and discuss the plan of care with the resident and their representatives as it is an open and transparent process. Staff should periodically review the plan of care to ensure it is always current and any changes in health or care should be openly discussed and all parties consulted. This is a partnership arrangement and the goal is to ensure the best outcomes for the resident.

Key staff should make themselves known to you and your family so that open relationships can develop. Do not hesitate to speak with them or raise any issues, concerns or queries. They are there to assist. There should never be any fear of retribution if concerns are raised.

If there are any concerns, they do need to be addressed.  Staff are in a very privileged position of caring for your family member and they genuinely want to do this well.