How do I complete a Resident Agreement?

•  Depending on the aged care home, you may be offered:

  • three separate agreement documents
  • a single Resident Agreement that also incorporates the Accommodation Agreement and the Extra Services Agreement
  • a choice to have a single agreement or two separate agreements 

  Plus:

  • (see 8.5 When do you have to sign).

• The services and care being made available to you
• The fees you will pay
• The rights and responsibility of the aged care home (nursing home)

Plus:

• Your rights and responsibilities as a resident

The Resident Agreement should clearly identify the following things:

• The name of the aged care home 
• The policies, practices and considerations used in calculating your fees
• How much you will pay as your basic daily fee
• How much you will pay if you have to pay an additional means-tested care fee
• Any ‘extra services’ you have agreed to and how much they will cost
• The rights and responsibilities of the aged care home towards you as a resident
• Your rights and responsibilities as a resident in the aged care home
• The process for dealing with complaints - from you, family or friends
• The circumstances in which you could be asked to leave the home - for example non-payment of fees, or if your needs change and the home is not able to provide the level of care you need - and the process involved in helping you find new accommodation

Plus:

• Any other agreements made between you and the manager of the aged care home (nursing home) within the requirements of the Aged Care Act 1997

Yes, the Resident Agreement is legally binding so you should be sure that you - and your family member or other representative - understand all the elements of the agreement.

• What is included and what is excluded in the costs? Consider things like food and meals, bedding, medical supplies and special equipment?
• What can the home charge you extra for?
• How will you be paying your daily care fee?
• If you are not paying it directly yourself, who is responsible and is that made clear?

Plus:

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions or request that additional details are included.

• After you have signed the Resident Agreement you have 14 days to change your mind:
• If you want to withdraw from the Resident Agreement within 14 days of signing, you need to let your aged care home (nursing home) know straight away, in writing. You will still need to pay your care fees and charges for the care you’ve received during the 14 days. If you’ve made any other payments to the home during that time, you are entitled to a refund.
• If you decide you’d like to make changes to your Resident Agreement, both you and your aged care home (nursing home) will have to agree.

Plus:

• If you want to end your Resident Agreement at any time, you will have to give notice to the home, preferably in writing.

If you are only going to the aged care home (nursing home) for a short time - for respite care – you still need a Resident Agreement.

As with permanent or long term care, the Resident Agreement for respite care will provide information on both:

• your rights and responsibilities
• the rights and responsibilities of the aged care home.
  
  It will also include:
• the dates you’ll be staying at the aged care home (nursing home)

Plus:

• the costs to you – referred to as the respite care booking fee, which is a prepaid basic daily fee

• The price you have agreed to pay the home for your accommodation.
• Details on the three payment options you can choose from to pay the accommodation price:
  1.) the lump-sum amount – the Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) 
  2.) the rental-type payment amount – the Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP)
  3.) combined payment amounts, such as 50 per cent payment by lump-sum and 50 per cent rental-type payment amount
• Other conditions of your accommodation payment, including, if applicable, the refund amount of your lump sum balance if you leave or die, or interest rates charged.
• Any extra service costs for higher standard accommodation, meals and services, which the home can provide at additional cost.
• The specific accommodation you will be provided with – single or shared room, ensuite or shared bathroom.
• Any services that your accommodation payment entitles you to receive.
• The date you moved into the accommodation.
• The conditions relating to moving rooms.

• Translation services: If English is not your first language, you can have someone with you who can help with translating.  If you don’t know anyone who can help you this way, you can contact the Australian government’s National Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450.  TIS covers more than 100 languages and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the cost of a local call.
• Alternative signature: If you aren’t able to sign the agreement yourself, your nominated legal representative, such as your Power of Attorney, can sign the agreement on your behalf - as long as they can show they have full understanding of the document.