1978

Resthaven recorded that there was an extraordinary strain on their affairs, and that over 1,500 applications were waiting for people to enter the homes.

The steep rise in applications may have been owed to a pivotal change the year prior when the Uniting Church was formed. As such, prospective residents would no longer need to be of Methodist faith. Before this, only elderly women who served the Methodist Church were eligible.

The increased demand and large waiting list were not new to Resthaven, as from its inception, there was always a long waiting list for entry and a very slow intake. In 1978, it was recorded that there were some signs that this stress was being alleviated by the progress on developments. Before this, the usual time taken for application to admission was several years.

Knowing the vulnerabilities of older people and urgencies involved, the admissions process required a lot of care and attention from staff. As Administrator, Kelvin Dickens explained some years later:

'The policy on admissions is designed to give the priority of admission to those in most urgent need ... all people admitted for care are done on the basis of an assessed need.'

Each new resident was expected to enter Resthaven within two weeks of notification of a vacancy and was only accepted entry after being reviewed by the home's matron and medical officer. All residents had to be ambulatory at the time of admission into the home.

Once admitted, the Central Resthaven Auxiliary eased new residents' transition into their respective homes, and they assimilated into welcoming communities of staff and fellow residents. Into the 1980s, due to the growth of Resthaven, the Central Auxiliary became the 'Friends of Resthaven' at each site, which took on the role of welcoming new residents, fundraising for the home, and supporting social events. Eventually, in addition to the 'Friends', dedicated social workers and a specialist geriatrician were appointed to offer support and counselling to those transitioning into aged care. Meanwhile, Resthaven's chaplains offered pastoral care and support.

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In the early days, residents generally paid their fortnightly board in cash on pension day. It was collected by volunteers, many of whom were retired bank managers. This system continued well into the late 1990s, when direct debit options became available in 1996. There was a transition period when both options were offered, until all board payments became payable by direct debit only into the new millennium.

Today, the application process for admission into a Resthaven residential aged care home is very different.

Before applying, prospective residents first need to be assessed by the Government Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT), after which they receive a letter of approval for the eligible services. Next, after they have completed their official documents, Resthaven considers each applicant’s individual circumstances to ensure that accommodation vacancies are appropriate for the applicant and are allocated to applicants with the greatest needs.

Places may be offered to people with the highest care needs, or the most appropriate fit for the available vacancy, rather than those who have been on the waiting list the longest.