Low care includes:

• Accommodation related services — furnishings, bedding, general laundry, some toiletries, cleaning services, all meals, maintenance of buildings and grounds, and the provision of staff on call to provide emergency assistance.
• Personal care services — assistance with the activities of daily living, such as bathing, going to the toilet, eating, dressing, moving around, maintaining continence or managing incontinence, rehabilitation support, and assistance in obtaining health and therapy services.

Ageing in place
It is possible in some aged care residences for you to receive care at low-level or high-level  in the same place of residence. This means you don’t need to move as a result of changing care needs. It is called ‘ageing in place’.

An ageing in place policy is particularly beneficial for couples planning for a move from the family home as it may enable them to remain together even if their care needs significantly change over time.

It also means people can maintain the relationships they have developed with staff and residents. The staff will be qualified and trained to support older people needing varying styles of care, including nursing, if needed.

The ageing in place residences are designed to cater for people with a variety of care needs.

Not all aged care residences offer ageing in place, with some providing for either low-level or high-level care needs, but not both.

Also, a residence may not be able to appropriately care for you in certain circumstances – such as when behaviours of concern associated with dementia develop, that cannot be managed, or if you need acute care and need to go to hospital.

If you have queries about specified care and services, please contact BlueCross on 1300 133 414.