第5步：入住

入住Opal养老院——您的新家

入住养老院可能是一个令人紧张不安的时期，因此我们会尽量让过渡期尽可能平稳顺利。

入住Opal养老院通常包括以下几个主要步骤：

在入住之前和我们见面：在您入住之前最好尽量完成大部分文书工作，以便入住当天可以把重心放在您身上，有利于您适应新家。并且同样重要的是，您将有充足的时间通读所有文件、协议和表格，以免仓促做出决定。
填写“入住者协议”（Resident Agreement）：如果您能在入住前或入住当天与我们见面，我们会请您填些入住者协议。入住者协议是一份法律文件，概述了居住条款、您的权利与责任，以及养老服务机构Opal的权利与责任。入住者协议还详细说明了您的财务责任。在签署协议之前，您务必花时间阅读并完全理解入住者协议，包括构成该协议的任何附件。如果您对入住者协议的任何条款有不清楚之处，养老院的行政工作人员会提供帮助。您也可以寻求独立的法律意见。
入住：我们会提供您需要的许多家具和用品，包括床、床单、床头柜、跨床桌、椅子和橱柜空间，但是您也可以自带一些物品，让房间更有家的感觉。在您的欢迎包（Welcome Pack）里，您会找到一份“欢迎入住养老院指南”（Welcome Home guide），里面详细介绍了您需要知道的关于新家生活的一切信息。您的欢迎包还包括一份建议带到养老院的物品清单，以及为入住做准备的其他有用信息。

关于入住的常见问题:

如果我在签署入住者协议后改变主意了怎么办?
您有14天的冷静期，在此期间您可以书面通知我们撤销入住者协议。然而，您必须支付在养老院居住期间已产生的费用。我们将按照入住者协议，退还您支付的其他款项。

我或Opal可以更改入住者协议吗?
可以更改入住者协议，但更改的内容必须经您和Opal双方同意。

如果我不能签署入住者协议怎么办?
如果您不能在协议上签字，可以由持有委托授权书（Power of Attorney）的人代签。

Opal接受哪些付款方式支付可退还住宿定金（Refundable Accommodation Deposits）?
一次性支付的住宿费付款RAD通常以直接存款（EFT）、直接付款或银行支票的方式支付。

支付月费时Opal接受哪些付款方式？
在Opal，我们要求所有入住者填写一份直接付款表格，因为这是最简单、可靠而且可追踪的月费支付方式。

如果我未能按时缴费，会有什么后果?
在某些情况下，新入住者可能需要或选择出售资产（例如房屋）以支付入住者协议中约定的费用。由于完成大额交易会花一些时间，所以您一定要安排好替代方案，以支付约定的费用款项。跟处理与养老有关的其他财务问题一样，我们鼓励您寻求独立的财务建议，从而避免额外的压力，并确保您能够支付入住者协议中列出的所有费用。

我需要委托授权书（Power of Attorney）吗?
委托授权书是一份委任他人代表您处理金钱和财产问题的法律文件。您可以从律师、社区法律中心、州或领地信托公司或地方法院获取关于编制委托授权书的更多建议。我们强烈建议所有入住者在入住养老院前考虑委任一名委托人，这样当您无法自己做决定时，就有值得信任的人为您做出决定。

监护是什么意思?
如果您无法对个人事务做出决定，并且没有出具位委托授权书，州或领地政府可能会委任一名监护人代表您行事。

入住Opal养老院后如何处理您的事务

与民政服务部（Department of Human Services ，DHS）的通讯联络
在入住养老院后，您可能由于某些问题仍需与Department of Human Services保持通信联络，比如与个人收入相关的照护费（Means-Tested Care Fee）或财务状况的其他变化。

您可能想要任命一名代理人或其他人，代表您与DHS打交道。要任命代理人，请填写“任命代理人”（Appointment of Nominee）表格。此表格可向Opal的任意一家养老院索取。

罹患重大疾病时的个人意愿
您可能希望在入住时向我们提供关于罹患重大疾病时个人意愿方面的信息。您可以通过正式订立“生前遗嘱”（Living Will）或“预先医疗指示”（Advance Health Directive）的方式实行。预先医疗指示是一份书面声明，说明了当您无法参与事关自己的医疗决定时，您希望获得怎样的医疗救治。如果您希望将自己的意愿告知工作人员，请与我们联络。

您的遗嘱
为了确保遗产和葬礼要求按照您的愿望执行，订立一份现行遗嘱非常重要。您最好把遗嘱执行人的详细情况告知新入住的养老院，以便在必要时能联系到遗嘱执行人。

需要通知您入住养老院消息的人员清单

您可能需要将您入住养老院消息通知以下的一些人员和机构。

以下清单有助于您通知他们:
☐ 退休金支付机构。
☐ 澳大利亚税务局（Australian Tax Office）。
☐ 国民医疗保险（Medicare）。
☐ 您的医疗保险公司。
☐ 您的养老金公司。
☐ 办理驾驶执照的道路交通管理局（RTA）。
☐ 当地邮局。.
☐ 当地邮局。
☐ 澳大利亚选举委员会（Australian Electoral Commission）当地办事处。
☐ 您可能申请过的其他养老院。
☐ 家庭成员、朋友和邻居。
☐ 医生和其他医护人员。
☐ 园丁或割草工人。
☐ 清洁工或其他家务助理。
☐ 上门送餐服务提供商（Meals on Wheels）和其他社区支援服务。

帮助您入住住宿式养老院的援助和额外资源

某些入住者及其家人觉得入住养老院让他们感到焦急彷徨、忐忑不安。然而，您一定要认识到入住养老院对许多人来说可谓是一个非常积极、全新的生命篇章的开始。如果选择了合适的养老院，您的养老体验将会是一段充满安宁舒适、慈心关怀和友爱同伴的时光。您的养老院将是一个享受愉悦、充实生活的场所。

如果您或您的家人正在为是否要过渡到养老服务而犹豫不决，并需要尽快获得支持以缓解压力或焦虑，请联系您的家庭医生，也可致电抗抑郁协会（Beyond Blue），号码为1300 224 636。

其他额外资源和援助

澳大利亚政府“我的养老服务”（My Aged Care）网站
养老服务指南（Aged Care Guide）网站
养老服务101（Aged Care 101）
在线养老服务（Aged Care Online）

我们祝您的养老旅程一路顺利，并希望您能考虑邀请Opal成为您的照护伙伴。同样，如果您在迈向养老照料的过程中需要帮助和引导，请随时致电1300 048 519与我们经验丰富的工作人员畅谈。

Questions and considerations before I move in

You have a 14-day cooling-off period during which time you may withdraw from the Resident Agreement by notifying us in writing.

You will, however, be required to pay any fees or charges accrued during the time you were in the home. We will refund any other amounts that you have paid under the Resident Agreement.
Changes can be made to the Resident Agreement but both you and Opal HealthCare need to agree to these changes.
If you are unable to sign the agreement, someone who holds a Power of Attorney for you may complete it on your behalf.
The Refundable Accommodation Deposit lump-sum (RAD payment) for accommodation is usually made via direct deposit (EFT), direct debit, or bank cheque.
Opal HealthCare asks all our residents to complete a direct debit form as this is the easiest, most reliable, and trackable way to pay your monthly fees.
In some cases, new residents may need to or choose to sell an asset, such as a home, in order to pay the fees agreed to in the Resident Agreement. It can take some time for these larger transactions to be completed, so it’s important to have an alternative means of paying the fees and charges to which you have agreed.

As with all financial matters relating to your aged care, we encourage you to seek independent financial advice to ensure that you are able to cover any fees and charges listed in your Resident Agreement to avoid additional stress.
A Power of Attorney is a legal document that appoints someone else to act on your behalf in matters of money and property.

You can get further advice about preparing a Power of Attorney from a solicitor, a community legal centre, a State or Territory trustee company, or your local Magistrate’s Court.

We strongly encourage all residents to consider appointing a Power of Attorney prior to moving into care so that you have a trusted person in place to make decisions in the event that you are unable to make decisions for yourself.
In the event that you are unable to make decisions about your personal affairs and you don’t have a Power of Attorney in place, a Guardian may be appointed by a State or Territory Government to act on your behalf.

有关养老服务的常见问题

在收到老年照护评估小组（ACAT）的评估之后，您就可以开始向多家养老院提交申请，然而，一旦您接受了某家养老院的床位，就一定要通知其他养老院您不再需要他们的服务。
暂息照护是包括日间暂息在内的一种短期照护，以便让您的照顾者能得到所需的休息。暂息照护可以按计划安排，也可以在紧急情况下按需提供，一个财政年度内最多可享受63天。许多养老院都提供日间暂息服务，让照顾者能得到一些灵活时间，以便处理个人需要和履行应尽的义务。
民政服务部（Department of Human Services，简称 DHS）是决定您财务状况的机构。为此，DHS要进行收入和资产综合评估（Combined Income and Assets Assessment）。这是一份您需要填写并提交给政府的表格。
You may wish to provide us with information about your personal preferences in the event of serious illness when you move in. You can do this formally via a Living Will or Advance Health Directive, which is a written statement of what health care you wish to have should you no longer be able to take part in decisions about your medical treatment. Please speak to a team member if you would like to communicate these preferences to the team.
It is important to have a current will to ensure that your estate and funeral requirements are executed according to your wishes. It is also a good idea to inform your new aged Care Community of the details of the Executor of your will so that this person can be contacted if needed.
Moving into care can be overwhelming and stressful, however, it’s important also to recognise that aged care can be the beginning of a very positive new chapter for many people.

If you choose the right Care Community, your experience in aged care can be a time of great comfort, compassionate care, community and companionship, and a place to enjoy a lifestyle that will bring meaning and joy to your days.

If you or your family are struggling with the decision about whether to transition into care and need immediate support to assist with stress or anxiety, please contact your GP or call Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.

Additional resources and support are also available
- The Australian Government’s My Aged Care website
- The Aged Care Guide website
- Aged Care 101
- Aged Care Online
Sometimes hearing from others who have been through it can help. We created a series of short videos called Cuppa Q&A where we meet families of our residents who share their different experiences and emotions, moving their loved ones into care.

You are not alone - hear from other families here