How frail does an older person need to be before a subsidised residential care home is suitable?

To enter a subsidised residential care home, an older person must first be assessed as “requiring long-term residential care” and be placed on the Central Waiting List.[1]

The specific conditions are:

1. Age -- the applicant must be aged 65 or above.[2]
2. Assessment -- the applicant must first complete the free Single Assessment Mechanism for Elderly Services (SCNAMES). The assessment tool is interRAI™ Home Care 9.3 (updated in July 2021), covering activities of daily living, health condition, cognition, social support, home environment, and other areas.[1]
3. Validity -- the assessment result is valid for 12 months, and no fee is charged for the assessment or waiting-list services.[1]

Learn more -> Overview of residential care services