Residential Aged Care & Nursing Homes

Often the first sign that you may need to consider an aged care home, is if you’re not coping as well as you once did with everyday tasks. But the signs extend to all areas of your life including:

• The laundry basket is overflowing
• The garden isn’t being looked after the same as it used to be
• Avoiding chores
• Missing social events
• Any confusion or changes in mood
• Your health is visibly declining i.e. You’re not moving around the house as well as you used to, shortness of breath etc.
• You’re falling more frequently
• You're not eating as much as you should or your groceries are expiring frequently without you realising
• You’ve mixed up your medication or you’re forgetting to take it
• You’re finding that you’re asking for more support than usual

Learn more about how to talk about aged care with your family here

You may be eligible for residential aged care if you have:  

• Noticed a change in what you can do or remember 
• Been diagnosed with a medical condition or reduced mobility  
• Experienced a change is family or current care arrangements 
• Experienced a recent fall or hospital admission

However, to officially determine your eligibility for aged care you will need to do something called an ACAT or ACAS Assessment. 

You can get an assessment done via MyAgedCare or by starting the process with our friendly team on 1800 778 767. 

The types of services provided by St Vincent’s residential aged care fall into three main categories:

Accommodation

Your room and all the things that come with it – including your furnishings and bedding.

Hotel-type services

Services to meet your day-to-day needs such as meals, laundry and social activities. It also includes the services that maintain the aged care home. This covers cleaning, air conditioning and maintenance of the grounds and building.

Care services

Personal care help such as bathing, eating, help with medications and carrying out health treatments. Clinical care is also available and can include special bedding, nursing services and therapy services such as podiatry, physiotherapy and speech therapy.

Government assistance in aged care is different for everyone so it’s not always easy to say whether you can or will receive government assistance. 

If you choose to enter aged care, eventually you will need to complete an Income and Asset assessment from Centrelink. This assessment will determine your eligibility for government subsidised aged care and eventually offer some clarity on the cost of your home and care. 

Learn more about the cost of aged care here

Many of St Vincent’s Residential Aged Care facilities are equipped to care for and support those living with dementia. Secured rooms are often available in our aged care facilities, with specialised care teams in place.

While we’re pet friendly at St Vincent’s, unfortunately pets cannot move in with you into aged care. They can however visit and many homes offer the opportunity for visiting pets through pet therapy programs and events.

There are two types of aged care assistance available:

1. Care Fees – These are used to pay for your day to day living costs

2. Accommodation Payments – These cover the cost of your home

Learn more about the cost of aged care here

Your payments in aged care are broken down into
1) the cost of your care itself and
2) the cost of your accommodation

There are a few different ways you can go about paying for both of these. 

Learn more about the cost of aged care here

The right type of care for your current situation can be determined by the level of everyday care required and your independence. For assistance on the right level of care, please contact our friendly team on 1800 778 767.

Learn more about what care is right for you

Learn more about aged care services here