|
|
|
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I obtain admission to Fronditha’s Residential Care Services?
- To obtain admission to Fronditha’s
residential care services you must first be assessed by the Aged Care Assessment
Service. This service determines your eligibility and level of care you may
require.
For information on how to contact Aged Care Assessment Services go
to the Australian Department of Health and Ageing website.
Once you have been assessed as requiring
residential care of community care packages you must apply to the relevant person at Fronditha.
- How long do I wait before I am admitted to a residential care
facility?
- All of Fronditha’s residential and
community support services have long waiting lists. It is not possible to ascertain how long an applicant may have to wait before they are admitted.
Allocation of vacant beds or other services are done on a needs basis after
assessment by Fronditha.
- What are the fees payable for residential care services?
- The fees payable by elders for
residential care services is set by government legislation and regulations. The
exact amount an elder is required to pay is determined after assessment of their
level of income and assets.
The components of fees are:
- Daily fees which generally amount to 85% of the aged pension.
- An income tested fee which applies in circumstances where the elder
residents income is greater than the aged care pension.
- An accommodation charge which is assessed on the basis of an elders assets
and is only paid when an elder is receiving nursing home care (high care).
- An accommodation bond which is assessed on the basis of an elders assets and
is paid only when an elder is receiving hostel care (low care).
For
more information on fees go to the Australian Department of Health and Ageing -
Ageing and Aged Care internet
site.
- What is the Accomodation Bond?
- Under legislation proclaimed on 1st
October 1997, all eligible residents entering hostels may be required to pay an
accommodation bond.
An accommodation bond is an amount arranged between the
resident and Fronditha. The amount of the bond depends on your assets. The
following criteria are used to determine liability for an accommodation
bond.
- Residents paying an accommodation bond must be left with a minimum of 2.5
times the annual pension.
- For a married resident only half of the couple’s combined assets are counted.
- Your home is not included in the asset figure if:-
- your spouse or companion or a dependent child is still living in it;
- if a carer has been living there for at least 2 years, and is eligible to
receive an income support payment;
- a close relative (eg. Sibling) has been living there at least 5 years and
are receiving an income support payment.
- How do I pay the Accommodation Bond?
- You can choose to pay an accommodation
bond either as a lump sum or a regular monthly amount, called a periodic
payment, or a combination of both.
- What is the Accommodation Charge?
- An accommodation charge is an amount paid
by a resident receiving high care services. This is an indexed figure which varies
over time.
The charge however only applies in certain circumstances. That
is:-
- The resident has assets over 2.5 times the annual pension. If your assets
are less than this figure, you will not be required to pay an accommodation
charge.
- For married persons only half of the couples combined assets are counted.
- Your home is not included in the assets figure if:
- Your spouse or companion or dependent child is living in it
- A carer has been living in the house continuously for the past 2 years and
is eligible to receive a pension or income support
- A close relation (parent, sibling) has been living in the house for at least
5 years and is eligible to receive a pension or income support.
Special provisions apply when an elder moves from a hostel
to which they have paid an accommodation bond.
The accommodation charge is
payable for a maximum of five years. After 5 years a resident is no longer required to pay the accommodation charge.
For more information on fees go to the Australian
Department of Health and Ageing - Ageing
and Aged Care internet site.
|
|