Elements and Performance Criteria
- Research the aged care system in Australia
- Research the scope of the market for people entering into aged care accommodation
- Analyse the types of aged care accommodation and services available in Australia
- Determine the options for independent living services and the impact on an individual’s expenses
- Review the structure of the aged care system in Australia and the identify processes for gaining access to aged care services
- Communicate effectively with clients about aged care
- Communicate with clients in a respectful and professional manner appropriate to the relationship and purpose of interaction
- Follow regulatory requirements and organisational procedures and protocols regarding the provision of information
- Actively maintain currency of knowledge about aged care to ensure accuracy of information provided
- Refer clients to sources of specialist information or advice to address specific personal needs
- Provide an overview to clients of the types of fees that residents in aged care are asked to pay
- 3.1 Explain the user pays principles underlying aged care fees based on an individual's assets and income to clients
- Identify the categories of fees and how they are calculated
- Explain the options available to clients to pay their aged care fees and the considerations involved in the decision
- Describe how the former home decision affects aged care fees
- Outline the process to access government care subsidies
- Identify some of the opportunities clients have to manage cash flow and reduce fees
- Outline to clients how aged care affects social security payments and estate planning
- Explain the Centrelink or Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) assessment of aged care fees and the impact on a client’s Centrelink or DVA entitlements
- Explain how the move to aged care can affect a client’s Centrelink or DVA pension
- Describe how the aged care system takes superannuation assets into account
- Outline the treatment of superannuation and income streams in the means testing arrangements
- Identify when aged care is required and implications to be considered
- Describe the financial and emotional decisions that need to be made in relation to the former home and the impact this may have on Centrelink or DVA pension entitlements
- Explain to clients the estate planning considerations affecting aged care decisions and funding the fees
- Recognise the non-financial decisions including emotional and family considerations and the impact on the aged care decision-making process