We all deserve to lead a fulfilling life but our family and close relations are not always able to offer their time to give us the levels of care and support we require.

Steps to Aged Care

We all deserve to lead a fulfilling life – no matter what age. But, our family and close relations are not always able to offer their time to give us the levels of care and support we require. In this case, you can seek assistance from an aged care community, such as Donwood, by following the steps below.

Step 1: Discover your eligibility

Donwood is a government funded non-profit community based organisation.  Donwood is governed by a board of management and community members.  To access the services at Donwood you first need to assess your eligibility. You’ll need to arrange a free assessment with My Aged Care. This can be done through the My Aged Care website, by calling 1800 200 422 or via a referral from your doctor. The aged care assessment team will visit you to assess your eligibility for aged care.  Sometimes you may not have planned an assessment and are forced to make a decision due to your declining health and the assessment may be conducted while you are in hospital.

Step 2: Finding an Aged Care home

Once you know that you are eligible, you need to find a suitable aged care home. There are many throughout Melbourne with different specialty services and areas of expertise. The best way to find an aged care home is to visit them and see what they offer.  We suggest that you visit 3-4 different aged care homes, talk to people in your community and ask lots of questions, this will enable you to make an informed decision.  It is very important that you feel comfortable with the home you choose. More often than not, your choice of aged care home will be made very quickly, and yours and your family’s emotions may be very high.

 

Step 3: What are the costs of Aged Care?

There are three main costs to receiving aged care through Donwood.

The costs you are required to pay for residential aged care will be determined by the Asset and Income Assessment that you will need to complete with Centrelink or Department of Veteran Affairs.  Link to Residential Aged care property details for Centrelink and DVA Customers (SA485)

  1. Daily Care Fees: These cover your daily basics such as cleaning, laundry, utilities and meals.
  2. Means Tested Fees: These fees are determined by the government and are based upon your financial statements and pension entitlements. You can use the My Aged Care Estimator to calculate your potential fees. This fee is a contribution towards your cost of care.
  3. Entry Fees: This is a lump sum paid for your accommodation. We have Deluxe Single rooms, Superior Single rooms and some rooms dedicated to residents who require financial assistance.

The fees for residing at Donwood are primarily set by government bodies. As a non-profit aged care home, we do not benefit from these fees. They are here to help us provide our residents with top quality care. For more information regarding fees, visit our cost summary page or call us on (03) 9845 8500.

Step 4: Applying for permanent care

When you are ready to apply for residency in Donwood you’ll need to complete our Permanent Application Form. We require four documents with your application:

  1. Copy of your Aged Care Client Record (ACCR)
  2. Copies of your Medicare and Pension cards
  3. Power of Attorney – Financial & Medical (if applicable)
  4. Your Asset and Income Assessment Status Letter from Centrelink or the Department of Veteran Affairs

If you have any further questions, feel free to call us.

At Donwood, we pride ourselves on our compassionate care, varied services and inspiring activities for our residents. Call us on (03) 9845 8500 or book a tour online.