Glossary of terms

ACAT - Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACATs) comprise health professionals such as doctors, nurses or social workers, who provide information, advice and assistance to older people having difficulty living at home. ACATs help older people and their carers decide the level of care that will best meet their needs when they are no longer able to manage at home without assistance. An ACAT assessment and approval is required before an older person can access residential aged care, CACP packages or EACH packages.

You can get information about the ACAT team in your area by contacting the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853.

Ageing in place - Ageing in place is generally where an aged care service can provide various levels of care within the one location. If a service has ageing in place, then the service can be responsive and provide flexible care in line with each person's changing care needs. Residential aged care services differ in their capacity to offer ageing in place.

CACP - A Community Aged Care Package (CACP) is a planned and managed package of services designed to assist older people with low care and support needs who wish to remain in their own home. CACPs offer a range of services that are flexible, individually designed and can be adapted to changing circumstances, e.g. nursing, help with housework and personal care.

Community care services - Community care services provide care and support for people who want to stay independent and live at home. They include Home and Community Care (HACC) services, CACPs and respite care services.

Day therapy centres - Day therapy centres are special centres for older people who cannot access services - such as physiotherapy, occupational and speech therapy, podiatry and other therapy services - through their local hospital.

Dementia-specific care - Dementia-specific care is suitable for people in the early or latter stages of dementia. This care is available for people with low or high care needs.

EACH - Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH) is a planned and managed package of services designed to assist older people with high care and support needs who wish to remain in their own home. EACH packages offer a range of services that are flexible, individually designed and can be adapted to changing circumstances. Services may include assistance with getting out of bed, showering, dressing, feeding and going to the toilet.

ESS - Extra Service Status (ESS) is given when the combination of design features of a room and additional services meets a special government standard. The rooms must be larger, the facility must offer enhanced features and some additional personal services are made available. ESS rooms attract an additional charge.

HACC - Home and Community Care (HACC) is a package of basic maintenance and support services for frail older people and younger people with disabilities and their carers. HACC packages aim to prevent premature admission to residential care. Services include home nursing, home help, respite care and assistance with meals and transport.

High care - High care is for those people with limited or no mobility who require ongoing, 24-hour nursing care, as well as meals, laundry, cleaning and personal care. High care is also known as high-level care or nursing home care.

Independent Living units - Refer to Seniors Living.

Low care - Low care is for those who are mobile and can live independently, but require assistance with meals, laundry and personal care such as dressing, bathing and supervision of medication. Low care is also known as low-level care or hostel care.

Public Juridic Person (PJP) - Canon law (also known as Church law) describes three types of persons in the church: physical persons, moral persons and juridic persons. A juridic person is an aggregate of persons (group) or things (property) dedicated to enabling the Church to achieve its mission. Catholic Healthcare is designated as a PJP. We are dedicated to the mission of the Catholic Church, but we welcome people from all faiths and backgrounds to our services.

Residential aged care - Residential aged care is for older people and people with disabilities who cannot live independently at home and have been assessed by ACAT as needing this care. People may choose not to live at home due to illness; disability; bereavement; emergency; the needs of their carer, family or friends; or just because it is hard to manage at home. Residential aged care can be offered as either permanent or short-term care.

Respite care - Respite care is for carers, including older people who care for themselves. Respite care may be a few hours, a day, a night or even a few weeks. Respite care may occur in the person's home, in a day care centre in the community or in a residential aged care facility. It is designed to provide carers with a rest from their responsibilities.

Self care - Refer to Seniors Living.

Seniors Living - Seniors Living provides active, older adults with the security and companionship of a community without the hassle of home maintenance. Seniors living accommodation is generally townhouse, unit or apartment living. Seniors Living is also known as independent living units, retirement villages and self care.

Short-term care - Also known as respite care.