Do You Remember?

That first Bulletin heralded the end of the COVID epidemic Public Health Orders exempting retirement village operators and residents from certain requirements under the Retirement Villages legislation. The six Ministerial Orders put in place to allow emergency measures including the use of village facilities, village rules compliance, budget processes, how residents met and gave or refused consent and the conduct of Annual Management Meetings, expired on 31st March 2022. Operators and residents then reverted to meeting the requirements and obligations under the Retirement Villages legislation.

It seems a long, long time ago, but COVID is still with us, and it is alarming to see that precautions against infection such as masks, isolation during illness and immunisation, are often no longer being observed by many. Retirement Villages are reporting a rise in COVID cases, and we need to be aware of our responsibilities both to ourselves and others, particularly in the winter ahead.

RVRA Meetings

During May members of the Board met with Fair Trading, the Council on the Ageing, the Retirement Living Council, Ageing Australia, the NSW Property Council, the Retirement Living Council, the National RVRA’s and various Operators.

Budgets and the Budget Survey

Most villages voted on their recurrent charges and Proposed Budgets during May. In the Questions and Answers this month we look at two of the regular questions which arise after the vote – what happens if the budget is rejected, and who is responsible for a deficit?

The fourth Annual RVRA Budget and AMP Survey will go out to members during June. This valuable snapshot of finances in NSW Retirement Villages has produced statistics and comments which have guided the RVRA’s submission on changes to the Regulation, as well as the Education Centre’s program which is to concentrate on Village Finances in the 25/26 year.

Members Enquiries

Board members answered 28 enquiries from members covering 51 categories in April. The largest number of calls were about Management (15) and Finance and Budgets (12).

Remember to contact Cathy, our Calls Operator with your enquiry in the first instance on 1300 787 213 (option 1), or by emailing calls@rvra.org.au. We will try to get a Board member back to you as fast as possible but do be patient.

Village Visits

During May our Board members visited several villages both in the Sydney metropolitan area and in the Hunter Valley. If you wish your village to be included in the Village Visit schedule, please contact Cathy on 1300 787 213 (option 1) if you have not already done so.

This Edition

In this edition of the Bulletin, we are reminded by a timely article of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15th June. We also present the first articles of two series covering the New Aged Care Act: Support at Home and Dementia in Retirement Villages.

If you would like to support the work of the RVRA please consider an EOFY donation.

My Aged Care is the portal for Australians over age 65 (or 50 for Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islanders) to access the Government subsidised care system – either care in your own home, or residential aged care. If you, or your older family member need help to manage the tasks of everyday life; your first step is to register for a Needs Assessment and receive Approval for government subsidised services.

You can register online via the My Aged Care website and complete a quick online application; or call 1800 200 422 to request an assessment. You will need your Medicare card, and it is a good idea to have an idea of what care services are available and what assistance you require. Eligibility and approval for services is based on your needs.

After initial registration, you will then be contacted by an assessment organisation to arrange a Needs Assessment. This could take from two weeks to several months as there are long waitlists for these assessments around the country. Once you register with My Aged Care and set up an account, you are able to track the progress of any applications or assessments.

Once your Needs Assessment has been completed, you will receive a written report specifying what services you have been approved for and the codes for your services. This is an important document, and you should keep a copy handy. You may receive approval for care at home and also residential aged care services.

If approved for the Support at Home program (commencing 1 July 2025) , you will then go onto a national waitlist for your service funding (package) to be allocated. Wait times for funding can be several weeks to several months - or more, depending on your location and the urgency of your care needs. Once notified that your funding is available, you then need to advise My Aged Care which care provider you will be using.

If your care needs are low, you may be given access to the Commonwealth Home Services Program (CHSP), which is the entry level service that many consumers are currently receiving. This should not be mistaken for Support at Home program as this is a separate program and operates differently.

If you are a retirement village resident, some or all of your Support at Home or CHSP services may be integrated into the service offerings of your village operator, with your package funding applied towards the costs of these services.

What will change when you transition from Home Care to the Support at Home System?

From 1 July 2025, all people receiving Home Care Program (or approved and on the waiting list) will transfer to the Support at Home program. The new Support at Home program will change the way your allocated budget is managed and the contributions you will make towards care services.

For those accessing Commonwealth Home Support Program, there will be no change to the services they receive, or the structure of their fees.

No worse off principle

There are protections in place so that those who are already accessing Home Care, or waiting to access services are no worse off under the new rules. These grandfathering conditions apply if you were receiving a Home Care package, approved, or on the waitlist for your Home Care package as at 12th September 2024. Some of these protections include:

• Retaining the same budget level you were approved for under Home Care,
• Rolling over any accumulated unspent funds to be used in the new system,
• Reduced contributions for those who met grandfathering conditions

If you were not approved for Home Care packages as at 12th September or only approved for Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) you do not meet the grandfathering conditions.

What will you expect to see in the lead up to and post 1 July 2025.

• For those who are currently accessing Home Care services, your provider will (if not already) reach out to you to discuss the new system and sign a new Support at Home agreement.
• In addition, you will receive a letter from the Department of Health and Ageing in relation to what is required during the transition period.

My next article will provide detail on consumer contributions and funding levels for the Support at Home system.

For more information about aged care and seniors living, or to book a consultation with an aged care adviser, visit Aged Care Personal Advice or email support@personaladvice.com.au

Jennifer Langton is Head of Advice at Aged Care Personal Advice (a division of Aged Care Steps) and an industry expert on aged care finance.

According to Dementia Australia, in 2025, there are an estimated 433,300 Australians living with dementia. Without significant intervention, this number is expected to increase to approximately 812,500 by 2054. In New South Wales, in 2025 there are an estimated 141,800 people living with all forms of dementia. Dementia is the leading cause of death for Australian women and the second leading cause of death for all Australians.

This rise underscores the importance of awareness and preparedness in communities, particularly as 54 per cent of people living in permanent residential aged care have dementia.

Poor understanding of dementia among Australians is leading to stigma and discrimination. Dementia Australia highlights that three in four people with a loved one living with dementia felt that people patronised their loved one. One in three suggested that people avoid or exclude their loved one with dementia.

Dementia can happen to anybody, but it is much more common after the age of 65. With this in mind, retirement villages – a popular housing option for older Australians – have a direct need to promote awareness and understanding about dementia.

By fostering an environment of understanding, awareness and compassion towards people living with dementia, these communities can significantly enhance the quality of life for all involved.

Early signs and symptoms of dementia can be subtle and may not be immediately obvious. They can often be mistakenly dismissed as a normal part of ageing. Common symptoms include memory loss, changes in planning and problem-solving abilities, difficulty completing everyday tasks and changes in mood and personality.

Dementia is progressive. Symptoms often begin slowly and gradually worsen over time. No two people experience dementia in the same way. Looking after yourself and keeping your mind and body active are important to live well with dementia and reduce the risk of needing additional care and supports. Social inclusion and access to support can dramatically impact quality of life, and in some cases, the rate of cognitive decline.

Retirement villages can play an important role in supporting residents living with dementia to continue to live as well as they can and remain independent for as long as possible. By fostering an environment of dementia awareness and inclusion, these communities can significantly enhance the quality of life for people living with dementia.

A dementia-friendly community is created in collaboration with people impacted by dementia so that people living with dementia feel understood, included, respected and supported.

People living with dementia tell us they want to continue contributing to their communities. By increasing understanding of dementia and providing a little support, communities such as retirement villages can create welcoming places where everyone can thrive.

People living with dementia deserve the same respect and inclusion as people living with other life-threatening diseases like cancer and heart disease.

Ultimately, more detailed dementia education and understanding for residents and staff is essential to addressing the stigma experiences by people living with dementia, their families and carers.

Dementia-friendly communities are crucial to fostering inclusivity, respecting the rights of people living with dementia and facilitating access to the services, supports, activities and spaces to which every Australian is entitled.

In the interim a few topics for consideration are:

• Creating dementia-friendly spaces: Small adjustments to the physical environment to accommodate the needs of people with dementia can make a significant difference. This includes clear signage, well-lit areas, and spaces that promote social interaction and engagement.
• Encouraging social participation and inclusion: activities that promote social engagement can help individuals with dementia maintain cognitive function and reduce feelings of isolation. Encouraging participation in group activities and fostering a sense of community are vital.

Retirement villages, with their close-knit environments, are uniquely positioned to lead the way in creating dementia-friendly spaces. By educating themselves, promoting inclusion, and support residents can make a significant difference in the lives of people impacted by dementia.

For more information and resources, please contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 or visit dementia.org.au for email and live chat options.

For group or village dementia education and training, please email development@dementia.org.au.

Note: The statistics and information provided are based on the latest data available from Dementia Australia as of 2025.

After residents have voted on the recurrent charges and the proposed Annual Budget, the first (and very important) step is to advise Management of their decisions. This is the job of the Residents Committee (RC), or a resident elected by residents if there is no RC (Act Schedule 1 (4 (1b)).

If the proposed Annual Budget has been rejected, Management must be advised in writing of the residents’ decisions, and the advice must specify which items in the proposed Annual Budget were unacceptable.

They can then negotiate with Management on ways to reduce expenses, and Management can propose a revised budget for residents’ approval (s 112(6)). The revised Annual Budget must then go back to a properly convened residents meeting for a second vote – the same process applies even if there is no change to the Annual Budget. If the residents and operator cannot agree, a resident or the RC or Management can seek support from NSW Fair Trading or apply to the Tribunal to resolve the dispute (s 115).

Q2: I am a member of my village Residents Committee. Our current 24/25 Annual Budget looks like ending up with a Loss or Deficit. When the proposed Annual Budget for 2025/26 was presented this month, our manager said any deficit from the current 24/25 Budget would be added to it to make up the losses. This would mean the residents are paying for the losses, whereas I believe the legislation says this is not the case. Am I wrong?

A2: A deficit occurs when the expenses in the Annual Account exceed the income in the financial year. Generally, Management must pay for any deficit in the Annual Accounts from their own funds (s 120C(1)).

It must not be carried forward into later budgets or made good by additional recurrent charges or from the Capital Works Fund (s 120C). Furthermore, Management must not charge the residents interest in respect of a deficit (s 120C (4)).

There are, however, special circumstances (Reg 30) where the deficit can be carried forward into the next year’s Annual Budget (i.e., paid by residents):

• an URGENT repair or maintenance (but not replacement) of an item of capital (s 92(2), or
• an INCREASE in the cost of the following:

a. utilities (other than telephone)

b. statutory charges including rates and taxes (but not land tax) (Reg 26e)

c. wages and salaries increased under an award or industrial agreement

d. workers compensation premium (excluding any increase in the experience premium component above 50% payable by the operator under the Workers Compensation Act 1987)

e. public liability insurance

Your village Residents Committee will need to scrutinise carefully the deficit items to see if any fall into these categories and otherwise reject any attempt to carry the deficit forward.

Diane Hart
RVRA Board Member & Chair Education Centre