The government has extended the time a resident can move out of an aged care facility without penalty during COVID-19.
Many families have made the decision to take their loved ones out of residential aged care during the pandemic due to the alarmingly high rates of infection occurring in these homes.
More than 2,000 aged care residents have contracted COVID-19, and 654 residents have tragically died.
In normal circumstances, aged care residents are only entitled to be away from their aged care residence for up to 52 days a year for ‘non-hospital’ reasons. This type of leave is known as ‘social leave’.
If a resident takes more than 52 days social leave, the government does not provide the resident’s subsidy to the aged care home for that person for the additional days.
The provider can then pass the cost of the government subsidy on to the resident. The government’s emergency leave arrangements prevent residents being charged for the additional days.
Emergency leave was first implemented in May, and was due to finish at the end of this month, but this morning the government has announced it will be extended until 30 June 2021.
Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Richard Colbeck, said, “Many permanent residential aged care residents want to temporarily relocate with family to reduce their risk of exposure to COVID-19, and the Australian Government supports that choice where appropriate.”
“By introducing this arrangement, we are giving senior Australians the option of staying with family for the duration of the emergency, without the extra worry about using or exhausting their normal social leave entitlements.”
For aged care residents who do choose to take emergency leave, emergency support at home is available through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), which can provide personal care, nursing services meals, social support, allied health and therapy services, unaccompanied grocery shopping and transport.
