Welcome to
Fronditha Care Newcastle

To obtain admission to Fronditha Care’s residential care services you must first be assessed by the Aged Care Assessment Service. This service determines your eligibility and level of care you may require. For information on how to contact Aged Care Assessment Services go to the My Aged Care website www.myagedcare.gov.au. Once you have been assessed as requiring residential care or community care packages you may contact Fronditha Care on (03) 9552 4100 or via email info@fronditha.org to apply for placement.

All of Fronditha Care’s residential aged care facilities and community support services have awaiting lists. It is not possible to ascertain how long an applicant may have to wait before they are admitted. Allocation of vacant beds or other services are done on a needs basis after assessment by Fronditha Care.

The fees payable by elders for residential care services is set by Commonwealth government legislation and regulations. The exact amount  you are required to pay is determined after assessment of their level of income and assets, by Centrelink.

The components of fees are:

1. Daily fees which generally amount to 85% of the aged pension. These cover living costs.
2. An income tested fee which applies in circumstances where your income is above the threshold set by the Commonwealth.
3. Care Contribution Fee is an additional contribution towards the cost of care that some prospective residents may be required to pay. This will also be determined by Centrelink.
4. Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD). This is for your accommodation in the home. The RAD prices are set each of our respective facilities and they vary. Centrelink will determine if you are required to pay this, based on an assessment of your income and assets.
5. For more information on fees please access the My Aged Care website www.myagedcare.gov.au
6. *Detailed RAD prices at FC facilities will be discussed during the pre-admission process at the individual facilities

The Commonwealth government under the Living Longer Better legislation, (Aged Care Act) requires that all eligible residents entering residential care pay a Refundable Accommodation Deposit. This is for your accommodation costs.

A Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) is an amount arranged between the resident and Fronditha Care. The RAD amount for each facility may vary and is advertised on the Fronditha Care website and the Government My Aged Care website (www.myagedcare.gov.au or on 1800 200 422). It is recommended that each client has a Centrelink Income and Assets assessment completed.

The following criteria are used to determine if you will pay a Refundable Accommodation Deposit.

Your home is not included in the asset figure if:

• Your spouse or a dependent child is still living in it;
• A carer has been living there and is eligible to receive Centrelink means tested pension;
• A close relative (e.g. sibling) has been living there for at least five years and are receiving a Centrelink means tested pension.

Residents’ may not be required to sell their home to pay a RAD. You can choose to pay from:

• Other assets or income; OR
• Borrowing against the home; OR
• Income from renting; OR
• Combination of any of the above.

Aged Care Information Line 1800 200 422. Call this number is you wish to clarify any of the matters raised in relation to fees and charges. This is an independent helpline provided by the Commonwealth government. Fronditha Care strongly encourages residents and their families to seek independent financial advice.

You can choose to pay RAD either in full as a lump sum or a regular monthly amount, called a Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP), or combined of both (a RAD & DAP).

The Daily Accommodation Payment is not a payment by instalment. It is not refundable and will involve a monthly interest charge against the principal amount. the interest rate charge is determined by the Department of Human Services- called the maximum permissible interest rate (MPIR).

Each resident has 28 days after admission to inform the facility on which option they intend to pay the RAD.