As of July 1, 2014, everyone entering an aged care home for the first time is required to complete and lodge an Income and Assets Assessment form with Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). The Australian Government will assess the income and assets and will advise the service provider of the amount that will be required to contribute towards the accommodation and care costs.

Serene Residential Care Services encourages all consumers to complete the income and asset assessment prior to admission. If the asset application is not completed or lodged, the consumers will be required to pay the maximum daily means tested fee and/or accommodation payment, and will not be eligible for any Australian Government assistance towards these costs. Examples of income assessment are available at the My Aged Care website: www.myagedcare.gov.au.

We advise individuals to seek independent financial management advice from a licenced financial advisor with experience in aged care.

From July 1, 2014, the fees and charges for aged care residential services and accommodation potentially include:

1. A basic daily fee: From the date a room is accepted, all residents are eligible to pay the basic daily fee (payable monthly). This fee is 85% of the single persons Aged Pension rate, and covers living costs, such as meals, power and laundry.
2. An accommodation payment or accommodation contribution. Accommodation payments are means tested, and dependent on the outcome of the means test, one of the following 3 options will be applicable to each person entering aged care:
   1. No Accommodation Payment or Contribution: If the income and assets are below a certain amount, the Australian Government will pay the accommodation costs.
   2. Accommodation Contribution: If required to pay part of the accommodation costs, the Australian Government will pay the rest.
   3. Accommodation Payment: Consumers are required to pay the full cost of the accommodation.

   Options for accommodation contribution or payment:

   There are a number of combinations of shared rooms, single rooms with shared bathrooms or single unsuits. There are specified prices for each type (combination) of room.

   Residents may choose to pay for the accommodation by a bond amount, called a “Refundable Accommodation Deposit” (RAD), by a Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP), or a combination of both.

   Refundable Accommodation Deposit (Rad): A refundable deposit (RAD) is paid as a lump sum payable at the time of entry.

   Daily Accommodation Payment (Dap): A daily accommodation payment (DAP) accrues daily starting from the date of entry, and is paid monthly. Upon accepting a room at Serene, a pricing agreement and/or residential agreement must be signed prior to entering care. After entering care, a resident has 28 days to decide their payment method. The DAP is payable from the date of entry. Residents who decide to pay the RAD will continue paying the DAP until the agreed RAD is paid. This will be due within the first six months of residence.

   Residential Accommodation Prices: Serene Residential Care Services accommodation prices can also be viewed at My Aged Care website: www.myagedcare.gov.au. Please refer to the maximum room price information for each room at the Serene Residential Care Services and the accommodation payment options you wish to consider.

   
   

   ACCOMMODATION FEE CALCULATOR

   Note: This below Fee Calculator works with most browsers on Windows operating systems
   Note: "RAD" = "Refundable Accomodation Deposit" (A fully Refundable Bond)
   Note: "DAP" = "Daily Accomodation Payment"

   STEP 1 - From the drop down list, select the Room Type:
   Select Room Type Single room ensuite Single room non-ensuite Double shared ensuite Double shared non-ensuite Triple shared ensuite
   The RAD of the room type selected is $
   Note: If you are choosing to pay the Accomodation Fee fully by a RAD, then no further calculation is required
   
   
   
   STEP 2 - If choosing to pay the Accomodation Fee by either a combination of RAD & DAP or fully by DAP:
   Enter the desired RAD portion to be paid $
   Note: Do not use commas when entering amounts
   
   
   DAP Portion (shown as a lump sum) $
   DAP to be paid (per MPIR of 8.17%) $
   
   Note "MPIR" = "Maximum Permissible Interest Rate" (this interest rate is set by the Government)
   

   
   
   

   INTEREST CHARGED ON OUTSTANDING AMOUNTS

   Interest is payable on any outstanding fees and charges. Interest will accrue at the rate of the Maximum Permissible Interest Rate (MPIR), which is set by the Department.

   
   
3. A means tested care fee
   The means-tested care fee is a contribution towards the daily care costs, such as nursing and personal care. It is capped at $28,087.41 per year, and has a lifetime cap of $67,409.85 per resident. Once these amounts are reached, the resident is not required to pay any more means-tested care fees. Based on an assessment of the income and assets, the Department of Human Services will determine if consumers are eligible to pay this fee. The Department of Human Services will advise of the required amount to be paid (if any). If a consumer is not required to pay this fee, the Australian Government will pay the full cost of the care.

   SUMMARY OF FEES AND CHARGES

   TYPE OF FEE		COMMENT
   1	Basic Daily Care Fee	Applicable to all residents. Set at 85% of the single persons Aged Pension rate.
   2	Accommodation Contribution or Payment	The amount to be paid is determined by a government set means test. If a payment is applicable, the consumer may pay it by means of a bond (RAD), daily payment (DAP) or a combination of both.
   3	Care Fee	The amount to be paid is determined by a government set means test. If payment is applicable, annual and lifetime caps apply to this fee.

   If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact the facility manager at Serene Residential Care Services on at the contact details below;

   Phone: (08) 8443 7733
   Email: serenemanager@bluedawnhealthcare.com.au
   In Person: 1 Myzantha St. Lockleys SA 5032 (please call ahead to let the manager know)
   

At the time of admission, you will need to complete a form relating to your chosen payment method. Resident Accounts are sent out on first working day of the month. They include daily care fees, income test fee, accommodation charge, pharmacy fee, hip protector fee, label fees, hairdresser fees, tag test fees. Some of these fees may not be applicable.

We prefer Direct Debit option.

Payment by Direct Debit: this means that the amount on your statement will be automatically withdrawn from your bank account or credit card on12th working day of the month. For example, for an amount due on a statement dated 31.08.2013, the direct debit will be processed by12.09.2013. If the 12th of the month falls on the weekend it will be taken out on the Friday before, e.g.10th or 11th of the month.