Fees payable by residents at aged care facilities are regulated by the Department of Health. Basically, there are two types of fees that are payable at Westgate Aged Care:
FEES ARE REGULATED - THERE ARE BASICALLY TWO TYPES
- Fees that contribute to the costs of care and services (known as care fees).
- Fees that contribute to the costs of accommodation (known as accommodation payments and accommodation contributions).
The fees that a resident can be asked to pay vary depending on their income and assets as assessed by Centrelink and the Department of Health through a process known as a means tested assessment. Residents who do not complete a means tested assessment can be asked to pay the maximum amount of fees. Below is a guideline as to what fees are payable.
CARE FEES
Most residents are required to pay a daily care fee which contributes to living expenses such as meals, laundry and nursing/ personal care. The amount of daily care fee that we can charge is set by the Department of Health depending on the resident’s means tested amount. Daily care fees are made up of the following amounts:
- A standard daily care fee
- A means tested care fee (if applicable to the resident)
STANDARD DAILY CARE FEES
This is increased in line with the pension on a six-monthly basis every March and September 20th. Please click the link to the latest fees: https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/costs/aged-care-homes-costs-explained/aged-care-home-basic-daily-feeThe Daily Care Fee will apply to most aged care residents, including full pensioners and part pensioners with lower amounts of private income unless the resident is approved for financial hardship assistance. This Daily Care Fee amount also applies to all respite residents.
MEANS TESTED CARE FEE
We receive a certain level of subsidy from the Department for each resident to assist with the costs of care and services. Residents with a certain level of income and assets are required to contribute towards the costs of their care. Where a resident is assessed as being able to contribute to the costs of their care, the Department of Health requires the resident to pay a means tested care fee in addition to the standard resident contribution. When the Department tells us that a resident has to pay a means tested fee, Westgate Aged Care receives a lower amount of subsidy from the government.
The amount of the means tested care fee a resident can pay is dependent on resident’s level of income and assets as notified to us by the Department. The resident’s NOK will receive the same notification of any increase/change to the means tested care fee.
ACCOMMODATION PAYMENTS
- If your income and assets are below a certain amount, the Australian Government will pay your accommodation costs. Whether you pay an accommodation payment or an accommodation contribution (which is less than an accommodation payment) depends on your means tested assessment. Only residents with income and assets below a certain threshold (as assessed by Centrelink) will be eligible to pay an accommodation contribution.
- Whether you pay an accommodation payment or an accommodation contribution (which is less than an accommodation payment) depends on your means tested assessment. Only residents with income and assets below a certain threshold (as assessed by Centrelink) will be eligible to pay an accommodation contribution.
- The amount of accommodation payments at Westgate Aged Care varies depending on the room selected. Please discuss with our Admissions Team for a room which meets yours needs and that you can afford.
- You have a choice as to how to pay your accommodation payment. The accommodation payment may be paid as a lump sum (RAD), interest only daily payments (DAP), or a combination of a lump sum or part lump sum/part daily payments. Daily payments are calculated on the accommodation payment amount according to the applicable government legislated interest rate.
- If you pay your accommodation payment by way of a combination between a lump sum and daily payments, you can choose to have some or all of your daily payments deducted from your lump sum payment. You must tell us in writing if you choose to select this option.
- If you draw down your daily payments, from your lump sum, the amount of your daily payments will increase by the amount of the reduced lump sum.
- Accommodation payments are fully refundable to the resident on departure although we may deduct any amounts owing to us. Those residents transferring to another aged care facility will have their accommodation payment refunded within 14 days from when notice is given. If a resident dies, the balance of their accommodation payment will be refunded to the estate within 14 days after we receive a copy of the grant of probate or letters of administration.
FEE COLLECTION
Please click this link for further information: https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/costs/aged-care-homes-costs-explained/aged-care-homes-accommodation-cost – Residents at Westgate Aged Care are required to pay their fees and charge monthly in advance. Please discuss fee collection methods with the Admissions Team prior to admission.