Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Holy Spirit Care Services?
Who are the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters?
What is accreditation?
Are all Holy Spirit Care Services facilities accredited?
How do I know which aged care facilities are the best?
Do I have to be a Catholic to live at a Holy Spirit Care Services facility?
I don’t have much money. How will I have to pay?
What do you mean when you say you are a values-driven Organisation?

1. Who is Holy Spirit Care Services?

Click on here to find out more about Holy Spirit Care Services

2. Who are the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters?

Click here to find out more about Holly Spirit Missionary Sisters

3. What is accreditation?

The following definition has been taken from the Aged Care Standards & Accreditation Agency’s website and may assist you to understand what accreditation is as it applies to residential aged care. Other accreditation systems that apply to retirement villages, community care, etc are similar in concept but different in process.

Accreditation is about ensuring aged care facilities meet a set of Accreditation Standards, set by the Commonwealth Government. Specially qualified aged care assessors visit a home and speak with staff, management, residents and their families, to determine whether the home meets all the Accreditation Standards and expected outcomes. The Agency then makes a decision about how long a home is accredited. Homes assessed as complying with all 44 expected outcomes and with a good track record of compliance and continuous improvement generally can expect three years' accreditation. Otherwise, shorter periods of accreditation are considered appropriate. Homes with major or persistent non-compliance may receive shorter periods of accreditation or have their accreditation reduced. Accreditation may be refused or revoked where non-compliance is not remedied and there is a risk to residents' health, safety and well being. Even after a home receives accreditation, the Agency continues to monitor homes to ensure residents continue to receive a high level of care and that all standards continue to be met. Homes must also show to the Agency that they regularly seek feedback from staff, residents and their families, and look at ways they can improve.

4. Are all Holy Spirit Care Services facilities accredited?

Yes, all Holy Spirit Care Services facilities are accredited with the relevant accrediting bodies associated with Residential Aged Care, Retirement Villages and Community Care. In addition to accreditation, our facilities, volunteers and professional staff have received many significant awards acknowledging a commitment to a level of care and service far above many other facilities.

5. How do I know which aged care facilities are the best?

This can be difficult to know at first glance and we would suggest that you do as much research as you can. The selection of an aged care facility is an important decision for many reasons and the decision should not be made without proper consideration and consultation of all the options. Quality of care is about quality of life and providing quality of life is providing satisfaction and meeting the varied needs of the individual. Not all aged care and retirement facilities are the same which can be the impression gained from negative media stories. Not all facilities that are accredited or certified are the same or provide for the individual needs of residents. We would suggest that as a start you should consider the following when seeking care an aged care or retirement living facility–

What is the reputation of the facility in the community? Ask someone who may have had a friend or relative in the facility?
Does the organisation have a mission statement and values, and how are they practiced in the facility? For example, how are you treated when you enquire? Sit in the reception for 30 minutes and watch the interaction of staff with each other and residents. Does the facility look clean and well cared for?
What services are provided at the facility and how do these compare to other facilities you have visited?
Is it a happy place? Are people smiling talking or generally happy?
Ask for a tour of the facility and observe the environment (cleanliness of the facilities, behaviour of staff toward you and other people, etc) and how it makes you feel. Ask lots of questions to make sure you are making the right choice.

6. Do I have to be a Catholic to live at a Holy Spirit Care Services facility?

No, Holy Spirit Care Services does not restrict admission to people who are not Catholic. Our service, values and traditions are based on the Catholic faith; however that faith teaches respect, equality, dignity and justice which are common values in any religion or society. The majority of our activities are not religious, but due to our Catholic tradition some of our services, events and activities are based around traditional Catholic celebrations. All residents are welcome to participate in any religious activities or may not choose to. A number of ecumenical services and activities are organised regularly.

7. I don’t have much money. How much will I have to pay?

The levels of financial payment residents are required to pay depend upon the type of accommodation and service you are seeking.

Residential Aged Care – Financial payments, fees and charges in residential aged care are highly regulated by the Commonwealth Government through the Aged Care Act 1997. Holy Spirit Care Services uses a complex formula for assessing the level of financial payments of individual residents in residential aged care that complies with the Commonwealth Aged Care Act. More information can be obtained by visiting www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au.
Retirement Living - For retirement living, our units and villas are regularly valued by an independent valuer. This valuation is used for setting the purchase price (or Ingoing Contribution) for our retirement units.

Holy Spirit Care Services is a Not for Profit organisation meaning that any surplus funds made on operations throughout the year are retained within the organisation to build reserves and/or improve accommodation and services. In accordance with our mission surplus funds are also used to;

subsidise financially and socially disadvantaged residents
provide mission based services that are poorly funded by government or not at all (such as palliative care, rehabilitation etc)
provide pastoral care and religious services

If you would like to learn more please do not hesitate to contact us

8. What do you mean when you say you are a values-driven Organisation?

This means that our values of Respect, Integrity, Justice, Compassion and Innovation are central to everything we do. Our staff are trained in our Code of Conduct and the importance of our values when performing their day to day service either directly to residents, family or friends or to each other. Our mission is ‘to touch and enhance the lives of people with our Christian culture of quality care and service’. This is a serious statement which we have strived to achieve every hour of every day of every year since 1962. Whilst many things change on a day to day basis in Holy Spirit Care Services (our policies, our activities etc) the mission and values do not, and has become the guiding principle defining why we exist and why we do the things we do.