I’ve just been down to an Open Day at Regis Parkland Manor in Lanita Rd Ferny Grove.

Met Brian Marieann (volunteer manager).

I was shown around.

There are two types of rooms – double and single. Double rooms have 2 beds 2 single wardrobes 2 flat screen TVs bedside cupboards and over-bed tables and a shared bathroom (shower toilet handbasin).

The rooms are fully air-conditioned. Does one have a choice of not having air-conditioning on?

Meals are cooked on-site. Residents are offered a choice (between two mains).

There is quite a large attractive garden which is ringed by a high security fence. The front door also requires a code to get out.

There are pain management clinics physiotherapy 24-hour nursing care. Low High Dementia and Respite Care are available.

Visitors can come anytime and there is a coffee-shop area near the foyer.

The facility is ‘fully-bonded’ which means that everyone (both Low and High care) coming in has to pay a bond of a minimum of $300000 (and possibly more) plus a range of daily charges.

Having said that they also offer a respite service which does not attract the bond. Respite is offered for a minimum 2-week stay. With an ACAT assessment eligible people can have access to up to 63 days respite a year.

All people coming to stay (including respite) have to have an ACAT assessment first.

There seem to be 4 types of charges. A Daily Care Fee that everyone pays (85% of the pension – currently $41.71); an Income Tested Fee (daily) – maximum $67.04/day which is assessed by the government on extra income; an Extra Service Fee (ESV) of $30.85 for a shared room or $49.40 for a single room; and some of the activities are charged for (?having hair done beauty therapy…).

So on top of the bond the daily charge could vary from a minimum of $72.55 ($26480.75/annum) to $157.79 ($57593.35/annum). I think it could be more – impression that some rooms are seen as more desirable than others (facing out onto garden…) and charged more for. So basically it starts at about $500/week + $300000 bond for a bed in a double room.

I met a friend coming out who has a relative living there. She said the service is excellent but extremely difficult to afford. She is struggling financially as a direct result of the cost of having her husband being cared for there; and said that it is a real problem organising finances to pay for care. She indicated it is not so hard if ‘there is only one of you left’ but if one person needs care and the other is ‘outside’ then the person outside faces real financial challenges.

There are about 120 staff about 130 residents and about 8 volunteers at the moment. At this stage it is not full. Volunteers are welcome. A police check is needed but Regis covers the cost of this. Some training is given.

The place has a good feel. It is not so much a ‘local’ facility as a facility accessible to ACAT-eligible people from anywhere who can afford the bond and daily cost.