There is a minefield of terminology and information you can face when you find yourself in the position of needing to assist an elderly parent with either gaining extra support at home or finding you need to move them into a nursing home/retirement village. It can be difficult to know where to start.  I have listed a few of the more common terms and definitions to assist with the process.

HACC- The Home and Community Care Program. This includes Home Care, Meals on Wheels, Community nursing, respite, case management and dementia monitoring.

CACP- Community Aged Care Packages that are provided by church and community organisations for those elderly who have greater need for support. They are intended to provide personal care and other services at the level provided in a Nursing Home while allowing the person to remain in their own home.

EACH-Extended Aged Care in the Home- This service is equivalent to nursing home level of care in the home.

ACAT-Aged Care Assessment Teams help older people and their carers work out what kind of care will best meet their needs when they are no longer able to manage at home without assistance.

For more information about ACAT please follow the link;

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ageing-acat-assess.htm-copy2

For eligibility for any of these services you need to contact either your Doctor or your local ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team) The Northern Beaches ACAT contact number is 99980356 or call Northern Sydney Commonwealth Carelink Centre Ph. 1800 052 222

RESPITE-Is the provision of short-term, temporary relief to those who are caring for family members who might otherwise require permanent placement in a facility outside the home.

A Retirement village is classified as lower level care where residents are predominantly in self-contained units within a complex that has community facilities such as games room, common dining room etc. These are usually privately owned and run.

Residential Aged Care facilities are usually funded by the Federal Government and provide both high level and low level care for the the elderly with a combination of self care units and nursing home accommodation.

The Retirement Village ACT 1999 was brought in to ensure that older people who choose to live in a retirement village have security, peace of mind and are protected from exploitation. The Act applies to all existing and future retirement villages in NSW.