Eligibility

If you are the primary carer of someone aged 65 years or over (50 years of over for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders), or if you look after someone with care needs, you can qualify for services at our Care Home.

Respite Care provides temporary care for Seniors, providing an opportunity for their fulltime carers to have a break and recharge their batteries. Respite Care can be accessed for up to 9 weeks in a calendar year.

However, because the Australian Government subsidises a large range of Aged Care in Australia, before you can move into any subsidised Aged Care Home you need to have a comprehensive assessment to determine the level of care you need.

This comprehensive assessment is undertaken by an Aged Care Assessment team (ACAT) and is usually referred to as an ACAT Assessment.

9 facts you should know about ACAT Assessments (download pdf)

Costs

The Australian Government subsidises a range of Aged Care in Australia. If your personal circumstances allow, it is expected that you will also contribute to the cost of your care.

Fees are set by the Commonwealth Department of Social Services following a financial assessment on each resident by Centrelink or the Department of Veteran Affairs.

There are two types of fees that you can expect to pay.

• A basic daily fee (compulsory)
• An income-tested care fee – if your income is over the maximum income for a full pensioner – you may be asked to pay this fee. The Department of Human Services will make an assessment to see if you are required to pay. This is based on your income and assets. The Department will then advise you of any fees requiring payment.

What is the basic daily care fee?

The basic daily care fee covers living costs like meals, utilities, cleaning and laundry. For some residents, this may be the only fee that is payable.

The maximum basic daily fee is 17.5 percent of the single person rate of the basic age pension.

This rate increases on March 20 and September 20 each year in line with changes to the Age Pension.

Schedule of fees and charges

Calculating your fees

Our qualified staff at Bundaleer are also available to ensure a full understanding of services provided for fees paid and can be contacted on (02) 6586 9400.

Alternatively, My Aged Care can give your more information about Residential Aged Care fees. Call the My Aged Care contact Centre direct on 1800 200 422 or go to the My Aged Care website. 

Accounts

At Bundaleer our accounts are issued monthly to the nominated contact responsible for the payment.

For residents with less than the prescribed minimum assets, (currently $47,500) the Federal Government will pay Bundaleer a supplement and you will pay nothing.

For all other residents, depending on assets and income, bed fees may apply.

Payment Options

Residents can choose to pay for their accommodation by a Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD), or a Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP) or a combination of both.

A Refundable Accommodation Deposit is paid as a lump sum while the Daily Accommodation Payment accrues daily and is payable monthly. Bundaleer also welcomes supported residents.

Schedule of fees and charges

Room Types

Bundaleer has a Residential Care Home in Wauchope, our Cameron Street accommodation is an 84 bed facility featuring single rooms with ensuite, built-in wardrobe, tea making facilities with Registered Nurse Specialists and Care staff rostered on 24 hours a day.

Our Care Home has a wide range of services available, depending on the needs of our individual residents including:

• The provision of appropriate meals, assistance with laundry, cleaning, bed-making and social activities.
• The provision of emergency assistance available 24 hours a day
• Dressing and undressing.
• Supervising and taking of medicines and help with treatments such as eye drops and ointments.
• Help in going to the toilet and with continence challenges.
• Three meals a day and where needed, help with eating.
• Special diet for medical or cultural reasons.
• Palliative Care.
• Dementia Care.
• Residential Care.

See our brochure for a full list of Respite Care services (download pdf)
Interested in the food at our facilities? See our current menu (download pdf)

What are my rights as a Bundaleer Resident?

Everyone has the right to freedom and respect and the right to be treated fairly by others. Your rights do not diminish when you move into Respite Care, regardless of your physical or mental frailty or your ability to fully appreciate your rights.

Every resident in Respite Care has the right:

• to quality care, appropriate to his or her needs;
• to full information about his or her own state of health and about available treatments;
• to be treated with dignity and respect, and to live without exploitation, abuse or neglect;
• to live without discrimination or victimisation. The resident is not obliged to feel grateful to those providing his or her care and accommodation;
• to personal privacy;
• to live in a safe, secure and homelike environment, and to move freely both within and outside the facility without undue restriction;
• to be treated and accepted as an individual. Each Resident’s individual preferences are to be taken into account and treated with respect;
• to continue his or her cultural and religious practices and to retain the language of his or her choice, without discrimination;
• to select and maintain social and personal relationships with any other person without fear, criticism or restriction;
• to freedom of speech;
• to maintain his or her personal independence; this includes recognition of personal responsibility for his or her own actions and choices. Some actions may involve an element of risk that the resident has the right to accept, and which should then not be used to prevent or restrict those actions;
• to maintain control over, and to continue making decisions about, the personal aspects of his or her daily life, his or her financial affairs and his or her possessions;
• to be involved in the activities, associations and friendships of his or her choice, both within and outside the facility;
• to have access to services and activities which are available generally in the community;
• to be consulted on, and to choose to have input into, decisions about the living arrangements of the Facility;
• to have access to information about his or her rights, care, accommodation, and any other information that relates to him or her personally;
• to complain and to take action to resolve disputes;
• to have access to advocates and other avenues of redress. Reprisal in any form shall not be made against any Resident who takes action to enforce his or her rights.

What are my responsibilities as a resident?

Every resident in Respite Care has the responsibility:

• to respect the rights and needs of other people within the Care Home and to respect the needs of the community within the Home as a whole.
• to respect the right of staff and the proprietor to work in an environment which is free from harassment.
• for his or her health and wellbeing, as far as he or she is capable.
• to inform his or her medical practitioner, as far as he or she is able, about his or her relevant medical history and his or her current state of health.

The A-Z of life in Residential Care (download pdf)

Admission to a Bundaleer Facility can only happen after an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) assessment has been done, is current and approved.

With your ACAT in place, simply follow these 5 easy steps.

1. Contact us to express your interest either via phone on (02) 6586 9400 or on the email address at the bottom of this page.
   
   An appointment can be made to inspect our Care Home and discuss accommodation charges and on-going fees with our qualified Team.
   
   
2. All prospective Residents are encouraged to spend some time with our current residents to ask questions about their lifestyle in the Care Home, to meet staff and join in on some activities.
   
   
3. Bundaleer also offers short term Respite Care. We would encourage, where possible, any prospective residents to take the opportunity for a Respite place before making a decision regarding permanency.
   
   
4. A legal document, called the Residential Care Services Agreement will be discussed with you and your family. This is an agreement between each resident and the proprietor and protects both parties. It can be witnessed by a relative, staff member or any other person of the resident’s choosing.
   
   
5. The only thing left is to move in. On admission please bring:
   
   
   • ACAT approval form
   • Residents pension entitlement
   • Medicare card
   • Copy of Power of Attorney papers (if relevant)
   • Ambulance card
   • All current medications, prescriptions and repeats
   • Any aids or equipment currently required by the resident, i.e. walking frame, hearing aid, glasses etc.

Resources

Links

• My Aged Care website
• Residential Care Fees and Charges.pdf
• Meal Options Menu (download pdf)
• 9 facts you should know about ACAT Assessments (download pdf)
• Expression of Interest Form
• Plan ahead for your future (download pdf)

Frequently asked questions

We understand that you may have many questions about options that are available.

We’re here to help and would be happy to talk to you about all the options and what needs to happen next. Start the conversation today on (02) 6586 9400.