Standard vs. Premium Rooms
Every rest home is different, but standard rooms are usually single rooms with space for a single bed and a few small items of personal furniture, such as an armchair and a television.
A premium room is a room that has features that are not required under the Age-Related Residential Care Agreement (ARRC), that is, anything over and above the standard features and services. Common examples of premium features include an ensuite, more space, or garden access.
What is Included in a Premium Room
Premium features generally refer to fixed features (such as an ensuite, tea/coffee making area or a view) and/or features associated with the room (such as adjoining garden or access to recreational equipment). There are additional costs for these features (the daily price varies widely e.g., $5 to $100 plus). The price does not necessarily reflect the quality of these additional features, so you need to compare what you are being offered at one home with another.
What are the Costs of a Premium Room?
Fees for premium rooms differ from rest home to rest home. All residential care operators are required to display premium room fees in a prominent place on their website. Premium room fees should also be specified in the Admissions Agreement.
Premium Room Fees vs. Premium Fees
Some rest homes charge premium fees for premium features of a non-fixed nature, such as newspaper delivery or specialist services. These are separate to premium room fees.
Residential Care Subsidy
The Residential Care Subsidy will cover up to the cost of standard room fees, but residents will need to pay the additional premium room fees.
Changing Your Accommodation
If you are paying for premium accommodation, you can review your tenancy every six months. If you decide you no longer wish to pay premium room fees written notice of this should be given. The provider then has three months to move you to a standard room, giving three days’ notice, or cease charging premium room fees.
10km Rule
If there are no standard rooms available at your preferred rest home, you may be required to move to a standard room at another home within a 10km radius. However, there are exceptions to this rule:
- If the home of choice has occupancy over 90 percent and there is a vacancy for a standard room at another home within 10km and you don’t want it, extra fees may apply. When a standard room becomes available the provider may move you into that with three days’ notice.
- If your home of choice has occupancy over 90 percent and there is no other vacancy within 10km then the provider must accept you and not charge extra fees. When a standard room becomes available the provider may ask you to move into that room, giving three days’ notice.
Further Information
For more information about premium room fees, please see section A13 of the Age-Related Residential Care Services Agreement. This document outlines the finer details of contracts with residential care providers, including charges and costs a resident is expected to pay.
Additional Tips
- When considering a premium room, it is important to weigh the benefits of the extra features against the additional cost.
- Be sure to compare premium room fees at different rest homes to get the best value for your money.
- If you are unsure about whether you need a premium room, talk to your doctor or care coordinator.
