Your aged care placement checklist

A helpful guide

We hope the following list of considerations will get help set your own individual priorities:

First Impressions

Location

The Premises

Accommodation

Bathroom and Toilets

Community Rooms

Day to Day Life

Domestic Arrangements

Language and Culture

Personal Possesions

Meals

Leisure Time

Religion

Telephones

Visitors

Personal Care

Health Care

Management

Terms and Conditions

Can there be a more difficult job than finding high care nursing home accommodation for a parent, spouse or a loved friend?

Agreed that very few people want to move to residential high care. In the past, residential high care conjured up very negative feelings. It is best to face the reality that they serve to provide the necessary care that is not available in any other setting.

Typically, the search for the appropriate high care home can take place under pressure when a hospital or rehabilitation center is threatening discharge or it's no longer possible for the loved one to live at home.

And if that is not enough, in most cases, finding the right residential care facility is a once-in-a-lifetime task, one you're taking on without the experience of having done it before.

Putting all of that behind us, there are a few rules of thumb that we suggest to help you:

Location

No single factor is more important to quality of care and quality of life of a resident than visits by family members. Care is often better if the facility knows someone's watching and cares. Visits can be the high point of the day or week for the resident. So, make it as easy as possible for family members and friends to visit.

Get references

Ask the facility to provide the names of family members of residents so you can ask them about the care provided in the facility and the staff's responsiveness when the resident or relatives raise concerns.

Check accreditation reports.

These reports are available online at facility accreditation website

Talk to the nursing home administrator or nursing staff

About how care plans are developed for residents and how they respond to concerns expressed by family members. Make sure you are comfortable with the response. It is better that you meet with and ask questions of the people responsible for care and not just the person marketing the facility.

Tour the facility

Try not to be impressed by a fancy lobby or depressed by an older, more rundown facility. What matters most is the quality of care and the interactions between staff and residents. It is a simple home-truth that "the walls are not going to jump out and care for you" so it is extremely important to assess the care staff. See what you pick up about how well residents are attended to and whether they are treated with respect. Also, investigate the quality of the food service. Eating is both a necessity and a pleasure that continues even when we're unable to enjoy much else.

For more pointers on evaluating residential care facilities, see our Placement Checklist.

How do families choose between aged care homes.

Most families begin the process of finding the right aged care home after they have the copy of the aged care assessment from the ACAT. There is only a single page in the "5 Steps to Entry into Residential Care". The selection of the aged care home is important and will have a major impact upon your relative and upon the families peace of mind.

Final word of warning - Stories from well meaning friends and neighbours.

Be wary of stories from friends and neighbours who have good intentions, but may not really fully understand the current status of the aged care home.

Alternatively, you could contact us and save considerable time and stress in the search for the appropriate residential care for your loved one.

Download your aged care placement checklist - questions to consider
Aged Care Connect (pdf 49kb)

Dementia-friendly features in aged care homes.

First Impressions

Does the overall atmosphere appear friendly, safe and comfortable?

Does it smell okay?

Does it seem to be a comfortable temperature for all residents?

Do the residents seem content?

Do the residents seem happy with the way staff address them?

Are residents treated with respect as well as in a friendly manner?

Does there seem to be enough staff?

Do the staff seem caring and attentive towards residents?

Are there other people with similar care needs to yours?
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Location

Will it be easy to see your family and friends?

Is it easy to get to local shops, club, church or other places and events?

Is there adequate transport to help you get where you want to go?
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The Premises

Can someone in a wheelchair move around the nursing home or hostel easily?

Is access difficult and safety an issue because there is more than one floor?

Are there call-bells in the bedrooms, bathrooms and communal areas?

Are rooms, stairs and corridors suitably lit?

Is there a safe garden that residents can use?

Are there smoke detectors and fire extinguishers?

Are there security arrangements?

Is the garden accessible to wheelchairs?
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Accommodation

Bedrooms - Can you have a single room if you want one?

Are there rooms with their own bathroom and toilet en-suite?

If you have to share a room can you meet the other person beforehand to see that you get on?

Can you have a different room if you don’t get on with the person you are sharing with?

Are there screens in shared rooms to give privacy?

Can you bring some of your own furniture and belongings?

Can you lock your cupboard?

Can you have your own TV in your room?

Can you have a telephone installed in your room?

Can you have air-conditioning installed?
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Bathroom / Toilets

Are toilets, baths and showers easy and private for residents to use?

Is there a toilet within easy reach of your bedroom?

Are there toilets within easy reach of all the communal rooms?
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Community Rooms

Is the furniture in the communal rooms arranged in a comfortable way?

Is there a choice of lounges?

Is there more than one TV room?

Is there a quiet room with no TV?

Are there non-smoking rooms?
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Day-to-Day Life

Are you comfortable with the “house rules” (eg. About smoking or pets)?

Can you influence what happens in the nursing home or hostel?

Is there an independent Residents’ and Relatives’ group?

Would there be a member of staff whose job it is to take a special interest in your welfare?
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Domestic Arrangements

Can you get up and go to bed when you want to?

Will your room be cleaned at least once a week?

Will your bed be made for you?

Can you help arround the nursing home or hostel if you want to?

Is it possible to buy small items in the nursing home / hostel (eg. Stamps and sweets)?

Are daily papers and mail delivered?
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Language and Culture

Is there a staff member who can speak your language?

Is there a policy of culturally appropriate care?

Have the staff received cross cultural training?
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Personal Possessions

Is there a secure place where personal items and valuables can be kept?

Does the nursing home or hostel take responsibility for insuring your possessions?
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Meals

Can you have input to menus?

Do the menus include foods which you like?

Do the menus give you a choice of dishes?

Do the menus seem to you to be balanced and nutritious?

Can special diets be catered for?

Can you have/make a snack when ever you want?

Is it possible to have meals other than at set times?

Can you have meals in your rooms?
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Leisure Time

Are social events and outings organised frequently?

Will there be activities which interest you?
(eg. Exercise, handicrafts, scrabble and cards)
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Religion

Will you be able to practice your own religion?

Are there regular visits by a practitioner from your religion?
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Telephones

Can you have a telephone in your room?

Is there a telephone you can use without people overhearing what you are saying?

Is there a telephone you can use which meets any special requirements you have
(eg. If you hard of hearing).
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Visitors

Can family and friends visit you without restriction?

Are there places where you can spend time in private with your guests?

Can visitors stay for a meal or even overnight?

Can you make/offer your guests a drink or snack?
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Personal care

Can you have a say in the way you are looked after/helped?

Is the personal care you need available
(eg. Help with washing, bathing or going to the toilet)?

Can relatives or friends help you with personal care if you want them to?

Does a hairdresser or barber visit the nursing home or hostel?
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Health care

Will your health care needs be met?

Can you keep the same doctor you have now?

Will you have access to a doctor at all times if required?

Is there a local doctor who accepts patients from the nursing home or hostel?

Does a doctor visit the nursing home or hostel regularly?

Do other other health professionals visit the nursing home/hostel regularly
(eg. Physiotherapist, podiatrist, dentist)?

If your care needs change can you continue to live at the nursing home or hostel?
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How the Nursing Home or Hostel is Managed?

Can you have a financial report for the nursing home or hostel?

Who runs the nursing home or hostel?

Are they the owner or the manager?

How long have they been running the nursing home or hostel?

Where can they be contacted?

How many residents are there?

How many care staff are on duty:
in the morning, afternoon, evening, at night?

Are night staff awake or on call?

What qualifications have staff got?

What training do staff get?

Is the nursing home certified/accredited?
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Terms and Conditions

What would be covered in your agreement?

What are the facility guidelines, fees and costs?

What does the daily fee cover?

What services are included in your payment?

What extra services do you pay for?

When is the accommodation bond payable?

How much might the bond be?

Are standard resident fees payable in advance or arrears?

Are standard resident fees payable monthly or weekly?

What happens if you run out of funds?

How long a trial period of respite care can you have?

What notice must be given if you want to leave the nursing home or hostel?

In what circumstances might you be asked to leave?
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