Glossary Aged Care

An ACAT assessment is an assessment of your loved one’s care needs, carried out by one or more members of your local Aged Care Assessment Team. ACAT members may visit you at home or in hospital to talk about the services you need and what is available in your area.

Residents who have been deemed by Centrelink to have sufficient assets may be asked to pay a refundable bond. This works in the same way as any usual accommodation bond.

On entering permanent residential aged care, you may be asked to make an accommodation payment. Only certified aged care homes can charge accommodation payments. This payment covers the day-to-day expenses of accommodation, facilities and services.

The Accreditation Standards are standards specified in the Aged Care Act 1997 that approved providers of publicly subsidised aged care homes must meet before they can receive public funding.

The Age Pension is a Centrelink payment which ensures that people who have reached retirement age have income for their retirement.

Aged care is personal care and/or nursing care provided to frail older Australians and their carers to facilitate independence, good health and wellbeing. Aged care is delivered through residential aged care and community care programs.

Some aged care homes offer specialised care options that allow a person to remain in the same home even if their care needs increase. Ageing in place describes this provision of care.

Allied health services include therapies offered by qualified practitioners, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative illness that affects the brain. It is caused by a build-up of particular proteins in the brain and is the most common form of dementia.

The Australian Government recognises that older people in rural and remote areas, from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, or with experiences such as war service or financial disadvantage, may have particular care needs.

Dementia describes the symptoms of a large group of illnesses that cause a progressive decline in the ability to remember, think and learn. There are many types of dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease is the most common.

End of life care, or palliative care, is care for people with a life-limiting illness, with the primary aim of achieving the best possible quality of life for the person and their family.

Before a person is eligible to move into a Government-subsidised aged care home, they must be assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team to determine what additional care modules they require.

Nursing home is the previous name for aged care homes that provide high level care, including accommodation services, personal care and medical needs managed by nursing staff.

Occupational therapy helps individuals gain or regain skills essential for a happy, safe and meaningful life. Occupational therapists support independence in tasks at home, work and in the community.

Palliative care is care for people with a life-limiting illness, with little or no prospect of cure, where the primary treatment goal is quality of life.

Quality of care refers to high quality care and accommodation consistent with best practice and provided in accordance with the individual care needs of residents.

If a person has care needs that cannot be met through community support and they move into an aged care home, they are known as a resident of that home.

Residential aged care is for older people who can no longer live at home. Australian Government-subsidised places are provided in aged care homes approved to care for residents.

Respite care is substitute care that can be arranged for planned breaks, regular weekly breaks, short holidays or emergency situations such as family illness.

Alzheimer’s Australia is the national peak body for people, carers and families living with dementia.

Culturally appropriate care takes into account special needs arising from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.