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    • Why your home value isn’t a barrier to accessing aged care

    If a person, or couple, think it is getting closer to consider entering residential aged care, it is reasonable to assume they will be mindful of their financial assets. For example, their home.  

    The median value of a house in Australia in April, according to CoreLogic, is $709,130. If you live in Sydney, it is over $1 million. If a person owns their home outright it is likely they are living in a property far above $700,00.

    However, when it comes to accessing aged care, it does not matter if the person’s home is worth $5 million.

    In the Department of Health and Aged Care’s aged care means assessment, the assessable value of her home is capped at $193,219.20. This is known as the home exemption cap.

    Aged care homes charge residents a basic daily fee as a contribution towards day-to-day living expenses such as meals, cleaning, laundry, heating and cooling. This fee is not means tested.

    For new residents, the maximum basic daily fee that can be charged is set at 85% of the single basic aged pension rate. The current fee is $58.98 per day. The basic daily fee increases on 20 March and 20 September each year in line with increases in the age pension rate.

     

    There are other means tests used that a person should take into account before deciding whether a residential aged care home is suitable for their financial situation.

    The maximum amount of the RAD a resident can be asked to pay must leave the resident with at least the minimum permissible asset level (currently $57,000), which is calculated as 2.25 times (rounded to the nearest $500) the basic single age pension rate at the time of entry.

    Residential aged care home providers must publish their current level of accommodation payments for the different types of rooms available. They need to show the daily accommodation payment (DAP), the equivalent lump sum refundable accommodation deposit (RAD) and one example of a combination of both payments.

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    A special thanks to our contributors

    Icons
    Jill Donaldson

    Physiotherapist

    Jill has been practicing as a clinical physiotherapist for 30 years. For the last 13 years she has worked solely in the Aged Care sector in more than 50 metropolitan and regional facilities. Jill has also toured care facilities in the US and Africa and is a passionate advocate for both the residents in aged care and the staff who care for them. She researches and writes for DCM Media.

    Read Profile
    Icons
    Chris Baynes

    DCM Media, agedcare101

    Chris has been a journalist and publisher in the retirement village and aged care sectors for 11 years. He has visited over 250 retirement villages and 50 aged care facilities both within Australia and internationally. Chris is a regular speaker at industry conferences plus is a frequent radio commentator.

    Read Profile
    Icons
    Annie Donaldson

    Nurse and Carer

    Annie has a long career in both nursing and the media. She has planned and co-ordinated the medical support from both international TV productions and major stadium events. In recent years she has been a primary family carer plus involved in structured carer support.

    Read Profile
    Icons
    Jill Donaldson

    Physiotherapist

    Jill has been practicing as a clinical physiotherapist for 30 years. For the last 13 years she has worked solely in the Aged Care sector in more than 50 metropolitan and regional facilities. Jill has also toured care facilities in the US and Africa and is a passionate advocate for both the residents in aged care and the staff who care for them. She researches and writes for DCM Media.

    Read Profile
    Icons
    Chris Baynes

    DCM Media, agedcare101

    Chris has been a journalist and publisher in the retirement village and aged care sectors for 11 years. He has visited over 250 retirement villages and 50 aged care facilities both within Australia and internationally. Chris is a regular speaker at industry conferences plus is a frequent radio commentator.

    Read Profile
    Icons
    Annie Donaldson

    Nurse and Carer

    Annie has a long career in both nursing and the media. She has planned and co-ordinated the medical support from both international TV productions and major stadium events. In recent years she has been a primary family carer plus involved in structured carer support.

    Read Profile