Frequently Asked Questions

My Aged Care is the government organisation that determines what type of assessment you will get to start with. They will normally start with a RAS assessment and then move towards an ACAT assessment if they feel it is required. The different assessments determine whether you are needing minimal or basic services (CHSP) or whether approvals for a Home Care Package along with residential care approvals are required. You can not access any aged care services without approvals.

Most providers will offer to send someone out to sign you up for their services. That is their aim. The more packages they have, the more income they have. They will tell you what their fees are and assure you they can service your package. They won’t tell you how their fees compare to other providers, or how many packages each manager is looking after. My job is to cut through their sales pitch, get to the facts about their service levels and staffing levels and see that you are getting the best value for your package.

Wrong! Have you dealt with My Aged Care? What a disaster. When you finally get through to a person, there’s a good chance you won’t get the information you need and will feel like you are running around in circles. Their online platform isn’t much better unless you spend an hour or two working out how to navigate it.

It can be quite difficult to place someone that is unable to pay a Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD). Most providers are structured in a way that requires them to have a majority of RAD-paying residents to be profitable. My knowledge of providers and their business structures allows me to be concise and focus my attention on facilities that I know offer Government Supported rooms. This will allow a smoother and more time-efficient transition into aged care.

Sure can! It is very important to have a thorough understanding of the fees and costs of residential care when you are self-funded. Most families can manage this themselves and determine what the financial situation will look like when their loved one goes into care. Sometimes, there will be circumstances that may require additional financial planning advice that I can’t give you. If that’s the case, I have specialised financial planners that I recommend.

Providers are wanting information about how much your loved one needs to pay when they go into care. The Department of Human Services determines everyone’s fees. You may or may not need to complete Centrelink forms – it depends on a person’s assets and income. Not having this letter shouldn’t prevent anyone from lodging an application form or being admitted. The Support Plan is generated through My Aged Care once an ACAT assessment has been completed and the need for residential care has been approved. Providers need this information to determine how much subsidy each resident is worth.

My role as a consultant is to help you cut through all the information (or lack of) that is available to you about aged care services and provide you with information that is relevant to your financial circumstances and your needs. Aged care is a business. The providers are there to make a profit and continue to run. They have their own rules on who they will admit and what they are looking for in a client. My role is to educate you, give you the skills and knowledge you need to negotiate, as well as provide practical assistance and support with the paperwork.

Unlike other placement agents, I don’t lock you into an expensive “full service”
contract that costs thousands. Most families don’t need it and are wasting their money. My Initial consult is a flat fee and this will give you all the information you need to navigate the aged care system. If further help is required, I can then be engaged on an hourly basis. Every family is different, and my business structure allows this flexibility.

Yes, you sure can. Some families choose to engage me to do their application forms and tour on their behalf – acting as their initial contact. They will then rely on my recommendations. This service is charged at an hourly rate.

I have an extensive background working for Residential and Home Care providers and I continually saw the difficulties people faced when they were trying to access aged care services for themselves or their loved ones. This is where my business idea started. Families have to spend endless hours trying to find the information they need. It really is a whole different world this aged care business! It is complicated, has its own language, and is bound by government regulations.