Accessing Residential Aged Care

We know that the move into an aged care home can be a very emotional time. There are a number of steps that you need to take so that you can find the right home for you. To help you with this transition we have mapped out the steps below and provided some helpful links.

Steps to move into Residential Aged Care

Step 1

Starting the process

Understand your options and care needs

To understand your care options and eligibility for government subsidies you first need to contact My Aged Care to arrange a local Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) to visit you. Call 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au. They’ll register your details and refer you to your ACAT team, who’ll get in touch with you.

Get your ACAT assessment

ACAT will organise a time with you to visit you at home or hospital to assess the level of care required and discuss the care and support available to you. Learn more about the ACAT Assessment process.

Step 2

Find out what you’ll need to pay

Aged Care Calculation of Cost of Care

You will need to complete an Aged Care Calculation of Cost of Care assessment with Services Australia to see if you are eligible for government assistance. The form may require you to access a number of different pieces of information, so you may find it helpful to have someone assist you with completing it. Visit the Services Australia website or call 1800 227 475 to arrange it.

Receive your fee notification letter

This will include the maximum basic daily care fee you can be asked to pay, plus any means tested care fee and accommodation contribution. Contact us if you need help understanding your letter. Learn more about Residential Aged Care Pricing.

Step 3

Find an aged care home that’s right for you

Book a tour or tours

Choosing an aged care home is a big decision so we recommend that you visit a few homes to make sure that you find the right one for you. Having a personal tour of the home, meeting the care team and seeing the accommodation and facilities first hand is very important. The best way to find the right home is to visit as many as you can. During your visit discuss what matters to you and ask lots of questions so you can get a sense for whether it’s the right fit for you.

Apply for a place

Once you’ve been through your evaluation and made your choice you will need to sign an agreement to secure your place. The agreement covers the details of your care needs, services, any fees you’ll pay, and your rights and responsibilities. If there are spaces available you should be able to move into your home quite quickly.

Step 4

Moving into your new home

Moving into a new home can be an overwhelming and emotional time. We will work together with you and your family to ensure this is the smoothest and simplest it can be. We want you to feel right at home from the very beginning.

We encourage you to bring along personal items that you can use to decorate your room and you will find plenty of cupboard space for your clothes and personal items. Our team will spend time getting to know you and your interests so that we can cater our care and lifestyle activities to suit you.

Learn more about the ACAT assessment

Understanding residential aged care costs

The move into aged care means understanding the costs associated with your care. Residential aged care fees are regulated by the Australian Government and may be subsidised based on your income and assets.

To get an estimate of your aged care fees you can visit My Aged Care and access the Fee Estimator at www.myagedcare.gov.au/fee-estimator.

There are a number of costs associated with residential aged care. These are stepped out in more detail for you in our Residential Aged Care Pricing.

Finding the right aged care home for you

Every aged care community will be slightly different, both in what it offers and the culture within it. It’s important to take a tour of the aged care homes you are considering before you sign your agreement.

The key things you should ask any aged care provider are: