
We can help you navigate
the aged care placement maze.
Contact us now
We will always
place your elderly
loved one first ......
and make the move
to residential aged care
a more positive experience.
site updated:
10th May 2013
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Did you know ....
Ageing Population

The number of persons aged 65+ will increase dramatically from 2012 to 2050.
The aged care group 85 - 94, and 95+ even more so ....
Source: Living Longer, Living Better report - April
2012
Our Population
The male retirement age
of 65 was set in 1909, when the average male lifespan was around 58 years.
In 2004, life expectancy
was 78.1 years for men and 83 years for women.
The proportion of people
aged 65 and over is projected to grow from 13 per cent of the total population
in 2005 to over 23 per cent in 2035, that is from 2.7 million older Australians
in 2005 to 6.2 million in 2035; and to over 26 per cent (7.5 million)
in 2055.
In 2005 1.9 million people
were aged 70 and over (9 per cent of the population); this will be over
4.7 million in 30 years (18 per cent of the population).
In 2005 312,000 people
were 85 and over (1.5 per cent of the population); this will be over 1.6
million in 50 years (6 per cent of the population).
Over the next 20 years
the number of Australians who are 70 and over will grow at a rate 3.3
times faster than the total population.
Between 1980 and 2005,
the total number of age pensioners increased from 1.3 million to 1.9 million.
Currently, almost 78 per cent of people of Age Pension age receive the
full or partial Age Pension (or service pension equivalent).
Aged Care Funding
Total Australian Government
outlays for ageing and aged care services (Department of Health and Ageing
and Department of Veterans’ Affairs) in 2005–06 is expected
to total $7.1 billion.
In 1995–96, the
Australian Government spent $2.5 billion on residential aged care. In
2005–06 the amount is expected to be $5.3 billion — an increase
of $2.8 billion over ten years.
aged care
A person aged 70 has a
36 per cent chance of needing high-level aged care during his/her life.
In 2004–05 the occupancy
rate for aged care homes was 95.3 per cent.
As at 30 June 2005 there
were 183,395 allocated residential type places, of which 161,165 places
were operational.
At 30 June 2005 the average
age of residents was 83.5 years.
About 60 per cent of high-level
care residents enter from hospital, 4.5 per cent from low-level care,
and 35.5 per cent direct from the community.
About 30 per cent of low-level
care residents enter from hospital, and 70 per cent from the community.
The average length of
stay is 34.4 months, with 37 per cent of people staying less than 1 year,
and 20 per cent staying more than 5 years.
A maximum of 15 per cent
of care places may be for extra service places, while 16–40 per
cent of places must be for concessional residents, depending on the region.
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Community care
There were 32,588 community
care places operational at 30 June 2005. This includes 1,672 operational
EACH places.
Nationally, there were
1,828 EACH packages allocated by 30 June 2005 and an additional 900 packages
were allocated through the 2005 Aged Care Approvals Round.
In addition, 667 EACH-D
packages were allocated through the 2005 Aged Care Approvals Round.
Home and Community Care
It is estimated that HACC
supported 32.2 million hours of service and the delivery of 12 million
home meals in 2004–05. Services were provided to some 744,000 people.
The average age of HACC
clients is 71.6 years, 65 per cent are female, 92 per cent are pensioners
and 56 per cent have a carer available to assist them.
Centre-based day care
provided the most hours of care, followed by domestic assistance, personal
care, social support, home nursing and respite care.
Carers
There are about 2.6 million
carers and approximately 475,000 people acting as primary carers for people
living at home who are aged or have a moderate, severe or profound disability.
76 per cent of primary
carers are aged less than 64 years.
Primary carers are predominantly
female; 42 per cent care for partners, 26 per cent children and 23 per
cent their parents.
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Dementia - Facts and Figures
Up to 200,000 people aged
over 65 are estimated to have some form of dementia. This is expected
to rise to around 265,000 by 2020 and 500,000 by 2050.
Dementia is one of three
major factors precipitating entry into residential aged care.
The 2005–06 Budget
provided $320.6 million to make dementia a National Health Priority.
This initiative includes three key measures:
$70.5 million for research,
improved care initiatives and early intervention programs
$225.1 million for Extended
Aged Care at Home Dementia packages
$25 million for additional
dementia specific training for aged care and community workers.
Health care
Many more Australians
are living to old age. A large proportion live a healthy life without
diseases and disability.
The prevalence of diseases
and disability increases with age.
The 2003 Survey of Disability,
Ageing and Carers found that over 61 per cent of people aged 70 and older
reported living with a disability compared with 20 per cent for the population
as a whole.
In 2003–04, people
aged 70 and older constituted just over 9 per cent of the population but
accounted for over 27 per cent of hospital separations and almost 42 per
cent of hospital patient days.
Public health
For those Australians
65 years and over, 7 per cent were current smokers; 8 per cent had risky
or high alcohol intake; 75 per cent were sedentary or had low exercise
levels; 35 per cent had one or less serves of fruit per day, and 82 per
cent had 4 or less serves of vegetables per day.
Being overweight or obese
was highest in older Australians between 55 and 64 years of age, compared
to all other age groups, at 72 per cent for men and 58 per cent for of
women.
Assistance with Finding an Aged Care Placement
Aged Care Connect have been providing placement
services to families undertaking aged care placement since 2002.
We can help your family achieve a successful placement outcome in your search
for appropriate aged care and accommodation.
If you are needing to find a placement Contact
Us - our experienced aged care placement consultants can save you stress,
time and money.
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Family Experiences
Thanks for your help with everything. You take that burden off people's shoulders just by knowing the ins & outs of the industry that most of us are never exposed to. To also bounce off someone 'that knows' is more help than you realise.
Mrs S Bell (30 Apr 13)
Thank you for finding
me such a great place. I'm settling in well and Allen (son) told me that you
were a lot of help in finding this home for me- regards
Mrs Yvonne Smith (5 Mar 13)
Thank you for all your
help - it has certainly made navigating all the paperwork easier. I consider
myself fortunate having worked in aged care and have some idea of where to start
- pity help other families who do not have a clue.
Mrs L. Webb (23 Jan 13)
Just a note to say a
big thank you for all of the effort you put in on my behalf. I am delighted
with the result (Accommodation Bond Negotiation)
D W Letcher (16 Nov 12)
Thanks. Mum has been
in the aged care facility now for nearly 2 weeks, time goes quickly!! Im still
very pleased with the facility, the staff are very nice, and it is good to be
able to visit more regularly as it in only 10 min from home. The single room
is just what i was hoping for, and we have started making it more homely with
a nice coloured doona and pictures, and some of mums trinkets put in place.
My eldest son called in the other day and he was pleased and said it felt bright
and friendly with the nice central gardens in the middle it made him happy knowing
his grandma was in a much nicer place than the previous aged care home. Cheers
Stephen M. (10 Aug 12)
Thank you for all your
help in relation to finding a suitable home for my Mum and Dad. Your efforts
were greatly appreciated by not only them but also myself. It surely is a maze
trying to work out how this whole area works in practice and your services certainly
assisted us in that regard. Although I know that there are difficulties to be
faced by them, I am sure that they will find it much easier to deal with these
in their new home. They appear to be settling in well. Please stay in touch.
kind regards Ron B. (29
May 12)
l would just like to
say thank you so much for your invaluable information l have received, and steering
me in the right direction, I dont know what l would have done without you. My
mum is settling in nicely in her new residence, and it has been a pleasant experience
with you on board..I would not hesitate to recommend your services in the near
future, to anyone needing help in the aged care maze! Its been such a pleasure
talking with you on numerous occasions. ...kind regards
Rosemary Davis (28 Mar 12)
Yesterday I received
a call from the low care facility in the area of which we were looking to get
my Father in. My husband and I went to have a look and absolutely loved what
we saw. It was exactly what we wanted in a secure dementia room. We immediately
took the room and on Monday I go back there to sign all the paperwork, then
the following day, we can move our Father in. They did mention that they received
all of the necessary paperwork from you guys, which was a blessing to both my
husband and I. I would just like to thank all the staff there in taking off
the added pressure of doing all the 'dirty' work for us. We are forever grateful
to you and your staff. The fee that you charge is more than worth the work and
the time that you do. I am in shock of how quick things moved along. As we are
at an age where most of our friends are in the same boat, I have been giving
your number out and recommending you in high regard. Again, thank you and kind
regards Sue and Denis
Christensen (2 Mar 12)
I would just like to
say Thank you. I can not express just how much I appreciate all you have done
for us. I am extremely close to my wonderful mother and it has been heartbreaking
to have watched her suffer the way she has. Finally she is showing improvement
and the care and staff are so terrific at .... All thanks to you we can now
rest easy knowing she is in great care.Your skills knowledge and expertise have
certainly shown through .I think today people are all to quick to make complaints
but few take the time to give credit where it is due.So thank you isnt enough
to say for the gratitude I feel ,The fee was truly worth every cent and I could
only highly recommend you to anyone requiring your services.Again many many
thanks Debbie King (8
Feb 12)
My sincere thanks to
you for just 'being there' at a time when relatives feel so vulnerable, having
to deal with the mercenary side of their aged parents needs. I have total confidence
in recommending your services should any of my friends be in a similar position.
It has taken a huge weight off me, as not being well myself at this time, I
found it all very draining. Thanking you once again for your very prompt and
effective service and wishing you every success in the future. Kind regards
Leonore (22 Nov 11)
Thanks for all you have
done for us Mr. Anthony
Severn (4 Feb 11)
Again let me thank you
for your professionalism and efficiency in these negotiations and I add a final
note of gratitude from the Doyle Family, as we applaude the result. Our Father,
now I'm sure, will settle down and be well looked after in this facility and
we'll continue to keep a watchful eye over him in his new home.
Mr. Chris Doyle (10 Aug 10)
Thanks for your assistance
with helping us find a great place for mum and dad. kind regards.
Mr. Stephen Meurs ( 12 Jul 10)
You guy's did a great
job - having people who know the business acting for us made a world of difference.
Martin Krygsman (27
May 09)
more testimonials ....
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