Facility Information

AZ5 06021

The Illawarra Diggers’ Residential Aged Care Facility in Wollongong’s northern suburbs provides quality care and accommodation for our aged community, in particular veterans and war widows.

We provide a friendly and caring homely environment that seeks to enhance the quality of life of every resident.

The welcoming atmosphere of the facility enables good quality care to be provided. The facility also has a separate unit for those with dementia who need a little more security.

Illawarra Diggers is located in an elevated position nestled under the magnificent escarpment and overlooking the picturesque South Coast coastline.

The facility is set amid beautiful surrounds of landscaped gardens and lawns and close to all amenities in the Corrimal town centre.

What does it cost?

Costs are incurred in two ways, a brief description is shown below :

A. For Accommodation

If you have assets in excess of a minimum amount you will be required to contribute to the provision of accommodation.

This may be through the payment of a Refundable Accommodation Deposit which will be returned to you or your estate on departure subject to you not otherwise owing monies to Illawarra Diggers in which case those monies owing will be deducted prior to refund.

Alternatively, you may choose to pay a Daily Accommodation Payment calculated according to a formula mandated by Government based on the Refundable Accommodation Deposit.

You may also choose to pay a combination of a Refundable Accommodation Deposit and a Daily Accommodation Payment.

You should seek your own Financial Planning advice to determine the option that best suits your needs.

Full details of Accommodation prices at Illawarra Diggers' are available from the office or on Illawarra Diggers' website.

If a resident does not have the minimum amount of assets to pay either a Refundable Accommodation Deposit or a Daily Accommodation Payment, Centrelink will assess their eligibility for a daily accommodation supplement to be paid to Illawarra Diggers. In this way, no-one is precluded from admission because of inability to pay for accommodation.

B. Ongoing Costs

In addition a resident is also required to pay a fee for ongoing support and care, including meals, laundry, cleaning care services, maintenance of ground and buildings and so on.

The fee a resident can pay is determined by Centrelink and is based on:

i. A basic daily care fee paid by all residents plus

ii. A Means Tested Care Fee will also be paid for those determined by Centrelink to have assets and/or income over certain levels.

Government policy is that those who can afford to pay more will do so. You should be aware that any additional means tested fee over a basic daily care fee does not mean additional income to Illawarra Diggers'. The amount of the means tested fee is deducted from any subsidy otherwise payable to Illawarra Diggers' by Government for provisions of care services to support the resident's needs.

Some details are available from the office, however, you will be required to undergo an assessment by Centrelink of both assets and income to determine both the fee you are able to pay and your capacity to pay an Refundable Accommodation Payment.

Is Short term (Respite) care available?

Respite care is available at Illawarra Diggers for a total of 63 days in any one financial year, for which the Commonwealth Government pays a subsidy. This is provided to assist carers in need of short term support.
To be considered for respite care the intending resident must be assessed as needing that care by an Aged Care Assessment Team.

What is the cost of Respite Care?

A basic daily fee applies which is determined by the Commonwealth Government. A booking fee is payable at the time of booking the accommodation - this amount is deducted from the fees during the period of the respite stay.

What services are covered by the ongoing resident fees?

Independence is promoted through encouraging residents to continue to undertake daily living tasks that they can still comfortably perform.

Residents are encouraged to make individual choices in consultation with Illawarra Diggers staff on services appropriate to his/her ongoing needs, which include but may not be limited to:

  • Meals and refreshments
  • Access to care staff
  • Treatments
  • Dementia support
  • Linen supplied and laundered
  • Recreational Activities
  • Optional monitoring of medicines
  • Maintenance of grounds and buildings
  • Laundry facilities on site for personal laundry
  • Cleaning of units if required
  • Rehabilitation and emotional support
  • Assistance with personal hygiene, bathing, toileting and showering
  • Assistance in maintenance of independence
  • Some complex health care needs
  • Recreational Activities
  • Monitoring of medicines
  • Maintenance of grounds and buildings
  • Laundry facilities on site for personal laundry
  • Cleaning of units if required
  • Rehabilitation and emotional support
  • Assistance with personal hygiene, bathing, toileting and showering
  • Assistance in maintenance of independence
  • Some complex health care needs.

What is not covered by the ongoing resident fees?

The following services may be available at the resident's request for an additional fee:

  • Hairdressing
  • Telephone
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Personal contents insurance
  • Some allied health services

Can residents go on holidays or stay with family?

A resident can take up to 52 days of social leave in a financial year to be used for any purpose. Normal ongoing fees apply during these leave periods.

Social leave in excess of 52 days is paid for by the resident at normal ongoing fee rates plus the amount of any Commonwealth Government subsidy which is lost to Illawarra Diggers - further details can be obtained from Illawarra Diggers.

What if I need to stay in Hospital?

A resident can take unlimited days of leave for the purpose of receiving hospital treatment. Ongoing fees will continue during such periods.

What is a Residential Care Facility?

Residential Care Facilities are established to provide accommodation and care services to elderly citizens who need daily support and assistance to ensure a good quality of life in an environment in which the resident can feel safe, secure and as much at home as they can.

Providers of Residential Care Facilities work in partnership with Government which provides financial support to assist in meeting the care needs of residents and, in some cases, the accommodation needs.

Who can live in a Residential Care Facility?

Those who choose to move to a residential care facility because of the circumstances are required have their needs assessed by an independent Aged Care Assessment Team to establish eligibility for entry to residential care.

The decision to enter is the choice of the person seeking accommodation and is subject to the agreement of the Provider of the Service.

Security of Tenure

Tenure is secured for the residents through a written resident agreement. This agreement is drawn up in accordance with the Commonwealth Aged Care Act 1997. Prospective residents are encouraged to discuss the agreement with their legal advisor.

What are your rights living in a Residential Care Facility?

Residents have the full use of their personal, civil, legal and consumer rights just as they would have living in the community. Details of these rights are included in the Resident Agreement.

Is there a Smoking Policy?

Yes. Illawarra Diggers' policy on smoking recognizes the rights of both non- smokers and smokers. No smoking is allowed anywhere inside the building. Certain areas are designated for residents to have a smoke. Details are available from Illawarra Diggers'.

Activities

Illawarra Diggers has staff employed to work with residents in ensuring a range of activities to assist residents in enjoying a good quality of life. These include bus trips, concerts, celebrations and many individually tailored events.

Room Furnishings

Illawarra Diggers provides basic furnishings including a bed, chair and bedside table to residents' rooms. Residents may bring other furniture or artefacts that make them feel at home subject to them not impinging on the health and safety of others (staff, residents or visitors).

Family Contact and Social Independence

Residents are encouraged to maintain independence and are entitled to all rights of a citizen of the community. To facilitate this Illawarra Diggers encourages residents to maintain contact and involvement with family, friends and social groups through unrestricted visiting (although space restrictions may prevent overnight stays), interaction with family and friends and maintenance of personal and intimate relationships while not infringing on the right of others.

This encouragement is extended to family and friends to maintain contact. The resident and/or family are invited to participate in assessment of the resident's needs during preparation of their ongoing care plan.

Transport to Appointments

While it is not Illawarra Diggers responsibility to transport or escort residents to external appointments or commitments assistance will be given where possible to arrange appropriate transport. It is important, therefore, for family and/or friends to remain involved in the resident's transport needs.

Personal Shopping

It may be possible on some occasions to provide assistance with personal shopping although this is not guaranteed. Family and friends are encouraged to assist.

About Us

Contact Info

8 Blundell Parade, Corrimal NSW 2518

Telephone. (02) 4225 4700
Facsimile. (02) 4225 4750
Email. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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