Article posted:Mar 24, 2011
Category: Residential Aged Care
Where do I start?Before you start looking for nursing homes in Western Australia you will need to have the person who is looking to move into aged care assessed. An assessment refers to the Aged Care Assessment Service (ACAS/ACAT) and are funded by the Government, so you won’t have to pay anything. The assessment is designed to decide how much care the elderly person will need, whether they require continuous nursing care or are able to be more independent.
However, there are also non-government funded residential aged care homes which usually do not require an assessment.
The first thing you can do is talk to your doctor who can then refer you to an ACAT/ACAS assessment. You can also use the ACAT/ACAS Service Provider from the Federal Government Department of Health and Ageing website.
If you are happy with the decision (and if you have the right to appeal the decision) then you can begin to look for a home.
Read Aged Care Online’s 5 Step Guide to Aged Care
What is a high level care and low level care home?
A high level care home (formerly known as a nursing home) is for an elderly person who needs 24 hour nursing care, whereas a low level care home (formerly known as hostels) are designed for elderly people who need nursing care occasionally rather than all day, every day.
When moving into a home there can be a process of 2-3 months or even longer, before the elderly person will be settled into a new home. You can read more about vacancies in residential aged care homes and how long you can be expected to wait before gaining a place in a home.
Finding a Place to call Home
Finding a nursing home is similar to finding a home to rent or buy.
When finding a home to rent or buy you would not expect to find something suitable within a few weeks, the same applies to finding residential aged care in Western Australia. It is important to visit as many homes as possible and decide upon the areas you feel would be suitable. The home as well as the neighbourhood and other near-by amenities (i.e. public transport, shopping strips, close to family/friends et cetera) as well as the home’s culture will need to be considered before moving in.
Residential Aged Care can be searched in Western Australia with an aged care online directory. You can also search for aged care in Perth. With online directories you can search by level of care, region and can also take a virtual tour of some of the properties.
What type of care is provided?
The type of services provided at residential aged care will vary depending on the type of care (low or high level) and if the home is an extra service home. If the resident is in low level care then generally accommodation and personal care is provided. Personal care refers to help with things such as occasional nursing or dressing and showering.
There are some services which must be provided at no additional costs, regardless of whether the resident is a low level or high level patient.
- Basic accommodation (i.e. beds, mattresses, linen, chairs et cetera)
- Social activities
- Cleaning services & Laundry
- Emergency assistance and on-call staff
- Grounds & building maintenance
- Communication & Mobility assistance
- Meals (special diets included)
- Personal care (i.e. help with going to the toilet, bathing, dressing and eating)
If the resident is a high level care resident, then the following services must be included (in addition to the basic services listed above)
High level care homes provide services for those who need continuous nursing care.
- Wheelchairs
- Air/water mattresses
- Continence aids
- Sheepskins
- Dressings and basic medications
- Therapy services (e.g. physiotherapy/speech therapy)
- Registered nurses trained to assess, plan and manage care
- Oxygen equipment & oxygen
