Understanding Your Rights and Support Options in Aged Care: A Guide for Older Australians

Your rights as a citizen of any country guarantee your safety and quality of life. Knowing your rights at any given time and under different circumstances comes in handy either for you or for a loved one. Hence it's important that you as an adult know the rights you're entitled to when you eventually join the aged population or you need to know them to help an aged loved one. 

There are many rights and policies put in place to protect the interests of aged persons in Australia. These rights are made to help you maintain your dignity and independence as a senior. These rights are effective whether in home care or nursing homes.

We will be looking at the jurisdictions of these rights and how they affect you as a senior or a caregiver. But before we talk about the rights, let us have a quick look at what aged care looks like in Australia.

What Does Aged Care in Australia Look Like?

When you hear about aged care, the first thing that probably comes to your mind is retirement homes. That's understandable but you need to understand that aged care goes beyond just putting your loved ones in a nursing home. 

Over the years, certain agencies and initiatives have been put in place to better provide for the needs of aged individuals in Australia. These initiatives have made it possible for seniors to choose and enjoy multiple care packages that suit their tastes.

Here are some of the aged care packages you would find in Australia:

Home Care Services

As we stated before, aged care doesn't necessarily mean having your aged loved ones in a nursing home. The home care packages provide comprehensive care and support to seniors in their homes. No need to move into a nursing home. You can enjoy all the services you need from the comfort of your home.

This kind of aged care has become increasingly popular in recent years as more adults now wish to spend their old days in their homes. They love the independence and safety it provides them as well as the connection with their family. Under home care services, you can get help with the following:

• Cleaning the house
• Preparing meals
• Moving around the house
• Personal hygiene
• Laundry
• Gardening
• Pet care
• Getting to appointments

The best thing about this model of aged care support is that it's designed to suit your personal needs. The caregiver provides you with the right care you desire and you're free to make any adjustments you want.

Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)

  The Commonwealth Home Support Program is much like the home care services. They both provide for the needs of aged people at home, allowing them to maintain their autonomy and dignity. The only difference is that the Commonwealth Home Support Program provides a lower level of support. Nothing major, just helping the individual with a few tasks at home.

It is safe to say that the Commonwealth Home Support Program is an entry-level part of the home care services. The program is open to all Australian adults over the age of 50. You can find more details about the program on the Australian official aged care website.

Residential Aged Care (Nursing Homes)

  And of course, if you feel more comfortable ageing somewhere away from home, you can always go for residential aged care. Residential aged care provides 24-hour care to aged individuals in a secure and comfortable environment. You can either go for short-term care(respite) or long-term depending on your needs.

Short-Term Restorative Care

  Short-term restorative care gives you a place to either recover fully from an illness or just boost your energy. You can stay up to 8 weeks in a secure and well-equipped environment where all your needs will be taken care of until you're back on your feet.

Respite Care

Respite care is the circuit breaker of aged care services. It provides a form of relief to caregivers, giving them time to take care of themselves while still doing their job as caregivers. Respite care is functional in both home care and retirement home settings.

Know Your Rights: The Charter of Aged Care Rights

No matter what type of care you receive, you are entitled to an equal number of fundamental rights. These rights are protected by the Charter of Aged Care Rights, which applies to all government-funded aged care services.

Here are your aged care rights:

• To be treated with dignity and respect
• To have your identity, culture, and diversity valued
• To live without abuse and neglect
• To make choices about your care and daily life
• To be supported in taking risks in your daily life
• To have control over your personal and financial affairs
• To receive quality care in a safe environment
• To be informed about your care in a way that is clear and understandable
• To complain or raise concerns without fear of losing services or being treated unfairly
• To have your privacy protected
• To have an advocate or support person involved in decisions if you choose

Under the protection of these rights, you're entitled to ask questions and expect the best care possible. At any time that any of these rights are intentionally neglected by your provider or an individual, you can take legal actions against them.

What to do when Your Aged Care Rights are Neglected 

In a situation where your rights under aged care are violated either by your caregiver or anyone else, here is what to do.

• Talk to Your Provider: Your provider is your first line of defence if your rights are violated. Reach out to your provider and explain everything to them. It could be a physical or virtual meeting. Either way, be explicit with your complaints. 
• Contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission: If your service provider couldn't resolve your problems, the next step is to contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. You can contact them at agedcarequality.gov.au and your complaints will be duly addressed and at the right time.
• Reach Out to an Advocate: If you need help raising a concern, reach out to an aged care advocate. The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) is an independent and free agency that offers advice and help you have a say.

How to Access Aged Care Services

As mentioned earlier, your rights in aged care are only guaranteed under government-funded aged care programs. Here is how you can apply and enjoy government-funded aged care services in Australia:

1. Contact My Aged Care
   First, you need to reach out to myagedcare.gov.au; the official website of Australia's aged care services. You will be asked some questions on your age, health status and support needs.
2. Get Assessed
   If you're eligible, you will be referred for assessment. The assessment is of two types, depending on the type of support you need. The aged care assessment team will handle your assessment for retirement homes or home care services while the regional assessment service will assess you if it's the Commonwealth Home Support.
3. Receive Your Assessment Outcome
   The assessor will meet with you (in person or virtually) to better understand your needs. You'll then receive a letter explaining what services you're approved for.
4. Choose Your Provider
   You're at liberty to choose any provider of your choice. Visit the aged care website and check out the providers available then make your choice depending on your needs.
5. Begin Your Services
   Once you've chosen a provider and agreed on a care plan, your services can begin.

Understanding the Cost of Aged Care Services 

Understanding the costs involved in accessing aged care in Australia is important. Most of the costs are handled through government funding but you may still need to pay for some extra costs. Some of the costs that you may have to handle include:

Basic Daily Fee

This is a standard fee set by the government that everyone receiving aged care may be required to pay. It covers everyday living costs such as meals, cleaning, laundry, and utilities. As of 2025, the maximum basic daily fee for residential care is 85% of the single basic Age Pension.

Means-Tested Care Fee

This is an additional contribution based on your income and assets. It applies to both home care and residential care services. Your financial situation is assessed to determine how much you can reasonably contribute. There are annual and lifetime caps in place to protect you from excessive charges.

Accommodation Payments

If you are moving into residential aged care, you may be required to cover the cost of your accommodation. The cost is determined based on the outcome of your means assessment. You can pay in the following ways:

A refundable lump sum

The lump sum payment method allows you to get a refund of your initial deposit when you come into the facility when you leave. It is divided into two:

• Refundable accommodation deposit (RAD): In this payment type, you pay the full amount by yourself. The amount is dependent on your agreement with your provider..
• Refundable accommodation contribution (RAC): Here, the government helps you cover the costs. Your provider helps you secure this funding based on the daily accommodation contribution as determined by Services Australia..

 

Daily payments

Unlike the refundable lump sum payment, there are no refunds for daily payments. You make a daily deposit of an agreed price. The amount to be paid is usually determined based on your means assessment, There are two ways of making the payments.

• Daily accommodation payment (DAP): You make the daily payments yourself depending on your means assessment and your provider in case of any other additional costs.
• Daily accommodation contribution (DAC): The government covers the cost for your duration of stay in the retirement home.

 

You can also choose a combination of a refundable lump sum and daily payments. You can split the combination any way you choose.

Extra Services and Additional Services Fees

Some facilities offer upgraded accommodation, entertainment options, or premium meals. These are optional but may be at additional cost. Service agreements need to be read carefully to ascertain what is covered and what is not.

Specialised Aged Care Services in Australia

Aged care in Australia is becoming increasingly inclusive, recognising that different people have different needs and backgrounds. By recognising these differences in culture, language, and sexual orientation, more personalised care can be provided. The following are services tailored for diverse groups in Australia
 

• Aboriginal Elders
  Aboriginal aged citizens are considered for a more culturally-based care that protects their values and norms. Programs are put in place to see that these elders have access to personalized care that meets their needs in the most appropriate manner.
• Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Australians 
  Interpreters and translated materials are made available to simplify the process of communication and make it more effective. In addition, you have the right of choosing a provider or caregiver of your choice; one that better understands your language and culture.
  
• People Living with Dementia 
  Specialised care and support are available to maintain independence and quality of life. This is either provided through allied health services in home care services or as integrated services in retirement homes.

Conclusion 

Part of enjoying the benefits of aged care as an Australian aged adult is understanding your rights and making the best of them. You have the right to safe, quality and respectful care among other things. Most importantly, you have the right to choose the kind of care you want and who to deliver it. Remember that you're not just an old person seeking care, you're a citizen of Australia who is entitled to all the benefits that come with the citizenry. Go ahead and make the best of your aged care now.