When it comes to Aged Care, acronyms are plentiful…ACSA, HCP, CHSP… But what do they all mean? Fear no more. We’ve compiled a list of the most commonly used ones – how they work and their service to the community.

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ACAS: Aged Care Assistance Service (Victoria) Provides teams who help frail older people and their carers work out what kind of care will best ever had to meet their needs.

Ever had a chat with someone where the talk is littered with acronyms – but you have absolutely no idea what they’re saying?

After each assessment, a patient’s level of support and service needs are recommended.

ACAT: Aged Care Assessment Team

Helps the elderly and their carers determine what kind of support will best meet their needs when they are struggling in their current living situation.

ACF/ACH: Aged Care Facility or Aged Care Home

Accommodation for older people who can no longer live at home independently, and who require help/support for everyday tasks/health care.

ACIA: Aged Care Industry Association (ACIA)

Association of aged care providers, whose members operate residential aged care, home care, home support and retirement living services.

ACS: Aged Care Services

Support and services are provided to older people in their own homes or in an aged care home to assist with everyday living, health care, accommodation and equipment.

ACSA: Aged & Community Services Australia

It is the leading national peak body supporting not-for-profit, church, and charitable providers of retirement living, community, home and residential care.

ADL: Activities of Daily Living

Refers to the basic skills needed to properly care for oneself and meet one’s physical needs in six areas: eating, dressing, bathing, toileting, continence, and mobility. It’s used as an indicator to determine the level of care and supportive services needed in a senior’s care plan.

AIP: Ageing in Place

Indicates that a resident can enter an aged care facility at low care and can remain there as their care needs increase to high care.

ATSI: Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander

CA: Carers Australia

The national peak body representing Australia’s unpaid carers, advocating on their behalf to influence policies and services.

CBC: Centre-Based Care

For elderly people who require low to medium living support, group activities, excursions and social support are provided in a local centre.

CC: Community Care

Personalised care and support services to help the elderly continue living at home.

CDC: Consumer-Directed Care

Are services chosen by the elderly person living independently at home? They decide the types of services and care and the providers of the services.

CHSP: Commonwealth Home Support Program

The entry-level home support program assists older people to live independently in their homes and communities. It also provides respite services to give carers a break.

COTA: Council on the Ageing

Provides leadership in social policy and community information, and education for older persons.

CRCCs: Commonwealth Respite & Carelink Centres

Assists carers by providing access to information, respite care and other support appropriate to carers’ needs and circumstances and the needs of those they care for.

DAP: Daily Accommodation Payment

It is the daily non-refundable payment for accommodation in an aged care home. It can be paid regularly up to a month in advance, similar to paying rent.

DOH: Department of Health

Develops and delivers policies and programs and advises the Australian Government on health, aged care and sport.

DTC: Day Therapy Centre

Offer a range of services (physiotherapy, podiatry, occupational therapy) for older people living independently either in their own home or aged care homes.

EACH: Extended Aged Care at Home

Individually planned and coordinated packages of care tailored to help frail older Australians remain living at home. Packages are flexible.

HACC: Home and Community Care

Services are jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State Governments. Includes at-home care or in daycare.

HC: Home Care

Services/support given to older people with care needs to live independently in their own homes.

HCP: Home Care Packages

A program funded by the Australian Government to support older people with complex care needs to live independently in their own homes. They use a consumer-directed care approach to ensure that support suits a person’s needs and goals.

HCS: Home Care Service(s)

Support/care services provided to an elderly person in their own home.

ILU: Independent Living Unit

A small home designed for older people who are actively independent, usually in a village environment

NESB: Non-English- Speaking Background

NDIS: National Disability Insurance Scheme

NDIS provides information and connections to services for people with disability. The scheme also provides support for their families and carers.

NSA: National Seniors Association

It is a not-for-profit membership organisation and advocacy group of working and retired
older Australians.

RAD: Refundable Accommodation Deposit

It is a lump sum payment for accommodation in an aged care home. This is the price of a room, in lump sum form, that you have agreed with your aged care home to pay and is fully refundable when you leave the aged care facility.

RC: Respite Care

Services designed to give carers a break from their caring role during planned or regular breaks, short holidays or emergencies.

RV: Retirement Village

Group of residential premises predominantly occupied by senior citizens who live in apartment-style rooms /suite of rooms.

SM HCP: Self-Managed Home Care Packages

A program funded by the Australian Government to support older people with complex care needs to live independently in their own homes. The elderly package receiver can choose the provider(s) and services given, including the workers or contractors, when the services are provided and can control how the funding is spent.

STRC: Short-term Restorative Care

A program that provides services to older people for up to 8 weeks (56 days) to help them delay or avoid long-term care.

VHC: Veteran’s Home Care

Home care for eligible veterans, and war widows/ widowers through the Department of Veterans Affairs.