The Ultimate Guide to choosing your aged care home
This in depth guide gives you step-by-step information on how to choose an aged care home or retirement village. Each step outlines the considerations with links to more information. Also consider reading our ‘Definitive Checklist For Choosing an Age Care Home or Retirement Village’.
This is a shorter checklist designed for you to take with you when you inspect and aged care facility or retirement village to ensure you don’t forget important considerations.
Step 1: Can you get Government Subsidy?
How does Government subsidy work?
The Australian Government subsidises a range of aged care homes in Australia. This means affordable care and support services can be accessed by those who need it. The subsidies are paid directly to the aged care home. The amount of funding that a home receives is based on:
an assessment of your care needs by the home (using a tool called the Aged Care Funding Instrument or ACFI)
how much you can afford to contribute to the cost of your care and accommodation (using an income and assets assessment)
To get the funding, subsidised aged care homes have to meet Aged Care Quality Standards to ensure quality care and services are provided.
Government-subsidised aged care homes
Receive subsidies to make care more affordable
Regulated by the Australian Government
Independent accreditation through the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC)
Some places may not be subsidised
Private aged care homes
Private aged care homes don’t receive subsidies from the Australian Government
Retirement homes or independent living units don’t necessarily provide care services
Retirement homes are regulated by state and territory government
Step 2: What will it cost?
Each home sets their own prices, within a prescribed limit, and costs will vary. How much you will have to pay depends on the place you choose and an assessment of your income and assets. Typically, there are three types of costs associated with all aged care homes:
A basic daily fee (the maximum is currently $52.25 per day) A maximum amount that everyone pays for the hotel services they receive.
Accommodation costs - A varying cost for your room based on a means assessment.
Means-tested care fee (the maximum is currently $256.44 per day) A varying cost for the care services you receive based on a means assessment.
You can get an idea of what you may have to pay by using the residential care fee estimator.
Read more about the costs and fees on the aged care homes costs page.
Am I eligible for a subsidised place?
Eligibility is based on need, determined through a face-to-face assessment.
To be eligible, you must be unable to live independently at home and can be either:
an older person
a younger person with a disability, dementia or other special care needs not met through other specialist services.
Your financial situation doesn’t affect your eligibility to live in a government-subsidised aged care home. It will impact the amount you may have to pay.
Check if you meet the requirements for an assessment or if you are ready, apply for an assessment nowHow long does it take?
Finding the right aged care home for you can take some time, so it’s best to start early. To find out if you are eligible, call My Aged Care to request an assessment of your care needs or find out more about what’s involved.
What is a means assessment for an aged care home?
A means assessment determines if you need to pay the means-tested care fee and if the Australian Government will contribute to your accommodation costs. It is undertaken by the government and is worked out based on an assessment of your income and assets.
My Aged Care in 4 easy steps:
See what might help you – Types of aged care services
Arrange your services - Find a provider that’s right for you
Manage my services – get the most from your services
Choosing the Right Aged Care Home For You:
Finding the right aged care home can take time. You will want to find a home that can meet your care needs, both now and into the future. The sooner you start thinking about it and looking at what’s available, the more prepared you will be.
Step 3: What should I look for?
Every aged care home is different. To find a home that’s right for you, you should:
Create a checklist outlining your ‘must haves’ and ‘nice to haves’
Create a shortlist of homes that meet your needs
Visit your preferred home options to get a feel for them and then pick your favorites to apply for.
Step 4: Finding an Aged Care Home
The easiest way is using the Find a provider tool. Simply enter your location to see aged care homes in your local area. There are a range of things to consider when choosing an Aged care home. These include:
Location
Where you live is an important choice. You may want to stay in your neighbourhood (or close to it) so you are familiar with the surroundings. Or perhaps you’d like to move closer to family and friends.
Use the tool to see a list of homes in your chosen area. You can also see where they are on a map to check how close they are to family, friends, public transport, and to the places you may regularly want to visit.
Accomodation & Costs
You may want to think about the size and type of room you want. There are single and shared room options, some with ensuites. There are rooms of different sizes and decor, and this variation among rooms affects the price. For information on how to work out costs and how much you may need to pay, read our aged care homes costs page.
Cultural Needs
All aged care homes must provide support for those with cultural and diverse needs. Above and beyond that though, some offer specialised services for particular needs. For instance, if you speak a different language, some homes may have staff who speak that language. Or they may cater for those with a medical condition, like dementia. Some homes provide support to those with particular religious beliefs, or cater to populations such as the LGBTI community or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Availability
Not all aged care homes have room to take in new residents. Depending on when you need to move, you may need to apply sooner rather than later. You can see aged care homes with current availability using Find a provider and contact them for confirmation. Then, you can add places to your shortlist based on when you think you’ll need to move.
Quality Standards
All aged care homes have to meet Aged Care Quality Standards. When they don’t meet these standards, they may receive disciplinary action. You can look for any actions the aged care homes may have (known as notices of non-compliance and sanctions) by using the Find a provider tool. Read more on the Quality page.
Step 5: Visiting Aged Care Facilities:
When visiting an aged care facility, you may consider bringing a number of documents. It may be useful to:
Take a copy of your aged care home approval letter and support plan as this can help explain what care and services you need. Your fee notification letter (if you have it) will also be helpful in your discussion.
Prepare some possible questions you may have before you get there. It’s also a good idea to take a notepad to record what you see and hear, or what you like and don’t like. This will help ensure you cover everything you want to know. We have a list of questions to help get you started.
Create a customised needs checklist to tick off as you take a tour through the facility. This will ensure that you can visually see and record the benefits of each facility which may aid in making a decision. To do so, visit our customise your own checklist page.
I have my preferred aged care homes - what’s next?
The next step is to apply to your preferred providers. The application process is different for each place, but it usually involves an application form, a copy of your assessment, and your fee advice letter. It’s best to apply to as many places as you can. That way you have the best chance of securing a spot.
How do I apply?
It’s best to talk directly to the places you are interested in, to find out how to apply. However, every place will need the same general personal information. You can gather much of this information beforehand.
What information do they need?
Aged care homes will need to know some personal information. This can include next of kin, health insurance, preferred language, and previous aged care experience. It can also include your representative’s details, and any power of attorney (if applicable). All aged care homes are required to keep your information private under state and Commonwealth legislation. You can expect that the information you provide in the forms will be treated sensitively by the aged care home.
What financial information is required?
Services Australia will provide the aged care home with the outcome of your means assessment. If they are yet to receive this information, the provider may ask you for some financial information. It’s up to you whether you provide this information. If you haven’t had your means assessment, do so now as the process takes time. Without it, you will be unable to receive any government assistance towards the costs of living there. Read more about the means assessment.
