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If you need to leave your retirement village residence to enter aged care, you may be able to ask the operator to make certain accommodation payments to the aged care facility on your behalf.
These payments are deducted from your exit entitlement.
Eligibility for operator payments
You may be eligible for the operator to make payments if you:
- have been approved under the Aged Care Act 2024 to enter residential care
- choose to pay a refundable accommodation deposit or refundable accommodation contribution
- do not have immediate access to funds, or paying these costs would significantly affect your personal finances
- are entitled to an exit entitlement under your residence contract.
Evidence the operator may request
The operator may ask you for evidence of your income and assets, assessed under the Aged Care Act 2024.
This may include documents such as:
- your Centrelink income and assets assessment
- other financial information required to confirm eligibility.
How to apply
You, or your representative, must submit a written application to the operator within 60 days of either (whichever occurs later):
- being approved to enter the aged care facility, or
- leaving the retirement village.
When payments start
The operator must begin making the daily accommodation payment within 30 days of receiving your application.
Payments must continue until:
- your exit entitlement is paid, or
- the operator has paid an amount equal to 85% of their reasonable estimate of your exit entitlement.
Vacated premises report
When you leave your retirement village residence, the operator must prepare a vacated premises report. The vacated premises report is used alongside your premises condition report from when you moved in.
Together, these documents:
- show whether any damage has occurred
- distinguish normal wear and tear from other issues
- help determine who is responsible for costs related to repairs, replacements or refurbishment, in line with your residence contract.
When the report must be completed
The operator must:
- complete the vacated premises report within 10 business days of you ceasing to reside in the village
- provide a copy of the report to you.
What the vacated premises report must include
The vacated premises report must give detailed information about the condition of:
- fixtures
- fittings
- furnishings.
After receiving the report
After receiving the report, you must be given reasonable time to:
- review the information
- discuss any concerns
- agree to the contents.
If you disagree with the report:
- you and the operator must try to resolve the issue using the village’s dispute resolution policy, unless you both choose an alternative method
- the aim is to reach agreement before any repair or refurbishment decisions are made.
The report must be signed by:
- the operator
- you or your representative, if it is reasonably practicable.
