The Definitive Checklist for choosing an aged care facility
How to choose a retirement home or aged care facility:
Without a definitive checklist it’s easy to overlook something vital and spend your golden years regretting it. Our ‘Definitive Checklist For Choosing an Age Care Facility’ ensures you don’t miss any important details and helps you get exactly what you’re looking for in an aged care facility or retirement village.
The checklist goes over the host of questions and important consideration you’ll need when deciding which age care facility suits you or your loved ones. For more detail on each step, consider reading our Ultimate Guide to Choosing Your Aged Care Home that accompanies this checklist.
The most important considerations:
The Definitive Checklist for Choosing An Aged Care Home Or Retirement Village:
Are you after a retirement home, village, serviced apartment, in-home Care, or a nursing home?
Once this is decided you can consider which parts of the checklist are relevant to you.
Determine what you would like a facility to have vs what you can afford, and come to terms that you may have to sacrifice some luxuries to get what you need long-term.
As you go through our checklist, consider which aspects are more important to you and how they will factor in with your budget.
How will you finance your stay in an age care facility? How much do you have in your superannuation? How many assets do you have? Do you still have an income from investments? Do you have outstanding debts? Do you have government assistance? Will you have to sell your house?
How much will it cost to stay in a chosen facility? Are their hidden fees? Do you have to pay upfront? What are the payment plans like? How much is subsidised by the Government?
Costs to consider:
Basic daily fee - these cover day-to-day living costs like meals, laundry, cleaning and utilities (e.g. power).
Means-tested care fee - this amount varies depending on your financial situation. Those who can afford it will pay more.
Accommodation cost - this depends on the facility, but it must be clearly advertised.
Fees for additional services - these extras will depend on the facility and your preferences.
Near to transport:
Is it easily accessible for friends, family, other visitors or medical emergency vehicles? Are there public transport options available?
Parking availability:
If a resident has poor mobility or uses waking aids this is important. Could parking be an issue for those visiting you? Is it paid parking? Can you have a vehicle at your own residence?
Vicinity to friends and family:
Many people prefer facilities closer to their friends and family, if possible. It’s beneficial to know if there is a facility in your local area ? If you have to move away, transport availability becomes more important.
Vicinity to shops:
How close is the nearest shopping center? Can you walk there? Will someone drive you (this is another reason parking is important)? Will you need to go shopping often? When your family visits are there cafes and other places close by and convenient?
Vicinity to specialist facilities:
Do you have any specific medical needs? Is there a suitable hospital nearby in case of emergency? Any upcoming surgeries? Do you have a local doctor or clinic where you are known?
Security:
How secure is the facility? Can strangers get in or could you or a loved one with dementia wander off and get lost? Can other guests get into your rooms? Are staff available 24/7? Are there CCTV cameras in place?
Access to nature & gardens:
Availability of gardens and nature is important for those who still live an active life and enjoy the outdoors. Depending on the size of the block you reside in, you may have a garden or lawn. Consider your age and mobility going forward. Does the facility have nice gardens or is it adjacent to local parks? Will you be free to wander the grounds? Do staff take residents on excursions? Do you get a private garden? Can you keep houseplants?
Gradients and steps:
Are there lots of steps in the facility? Are there ramps with hand holds? Is the whole building on a hill? Will these issues impact your mobility or safety?
Visiting hours:
How often can people come and visit? How long can they stay when they do? Can they take you out of the facility? Can you take yourself out of the facility?
Serviced facilities:
Does the facility accommodation include things that you would expect at home like: a dishwasher, washing machine, dryer or kitchen? Are there dining, housekeeping, reception or concierge services included?
Pets:
Are pets allowed to stay with you? Are pets allowed to visit? Does it cost extra? Do you have allergies that may impact living in a facility that allows pets?
Lighting:
How well-lit is the facility? Does light enter the bedrooms at night? Are there nightlights available? Are there motion sensor lights? How is the natural light in the facility and in your room?
Noise:
How loud is the facility? Is it comfortable for you? Is it on a busy road or train line nearby?
Community access:
Are there opportunities for you to interact with the community? How often are the residents included in community events? Can you organise community events or is it all controlled by the facility?
Extra amenities:
These may include pools, spas, saunas, gymnasium, snooker, table tennis, library, music, theatre. The amenities you want comes down to personal preference but it's important to consider what entertainment is available for you.
Extra services:
These may include meals, doctors, physiotherapy, fitness instructors, barber/hair-dresser. Similar to the extra amenities, the in-house services provided by facilities are an important to consider. Do they appeal to you? Do they cost extra?
Contact Availability:
How do you contact staff from inside or outside of the facility? What mechanisms are in place for you or family members to report issues to the staff? Is there an independent reporting system for issues?
Ownership:
Is the facility state owned, independent or part of a large conglomerate? Will this affect your choice in facility based on your financial situation?
Down-sizing
Moving into an age care facility gives you an opportunity to downsize your belongings. A good way to efficiently do this is to go through each room and sort your items into the four categories below:
Essentials: The must haves. Depending on your retirement home it could include furniture, personal keepsakes, books, clothes and toiletries!
Luxuries: These items are not quite essentials, but are things you would like to keep (if you have the space). Often these may include collectables.
For Storage: Storage is a great solution if you cannot keep everything in your new accommodation. Storage units are a cost-effective way to keep your belongings safe in a place you can visit when needed
Leave Behind: This is the category for everything else. These items are things you no longer need or want. They are now unwanted items (see below).
Handle Unwanted Items
Once you know what you want to keep, you will need to decide what to do with your unwanted items. Do you want to leave them to family and friends? Will they accept them? Would you like to donate them to a charity? Are they recyclable? Would you like to put them into a long-term storage facility and how expensive will that be? If they are rubbish how will you dispose of them?
Moving Services
Does the moving service you are considering cater to moving into age care facilities? Does the facility you are moving to offer or recommend a service?
Changing your Address
If you’re moving to a new area, you will need to contact all of your care providers and arrange for your care to be transferred to new providers.
Similarly, any subscriptions, bills, healthcare/medical or financial records will take time to transfer, so do it ASAP. Australia post will also have to be notified. Have you notified your friends of your address change?
Last But Not Least:
Our ‘Ultimate Age Care Checklist’ helps you make informed decisions, but most importantly, go and see for yourself. For more detailed information about costs and considerations, look at The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Your Aged Care Home.
Remember when visiting any age care facility, the helpful tour guide is principally a salesperson for the facility,chasing your business. So, it pays to evaluate recommendations from friends, acquaintances, and current residents you meet during your facility tour. People are more comfortable talking in a group setting so talk to as many residents as you can.
