Residential aged care
Key facts
- A residential aged care home is for older people who can no longer live at home and need ongoing help with everyday tasks or health care.
- Some aged care homes provide basic accommodation, while others offer continuous nursing care and healthcare services.
- Aged care homes are for people aged 65 years and over, for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 and over, and for some eligible younger people through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
- Consider a residential aged care home if you can't safely care for yourself at home.
- Costs depend on the place you choose and an assessment of your income and assets.
What is a residential aged care home?
A residential aged care home is for older people who can no longer live at home and need ongoing help with everyday tasks or health care.
Residential aged care homes are also called:
- residential aged care facilities (RACFs)
- nursing homes
- aged care homes
A residential aged care home can give you the services you need to have a good quality of life.
The government funds aged care homes across Australia. These homes supply services to people who need it and are eligible.
Each aged care home is different. They may provide different levels of care. Some provide basic accommodation; while others also provide continuous nursing care and healthcare services.
It's important to choose the right one for you.
Why might I need residential care?
You might consider a residential aged care home because you:
- are not able to get out of the house easily
- need help due to an illness or disability
- are no longer able to care for yourself safely at home
- need palliative (end-of-life) care
Can I use residential care even though I'm younger than 65 years?
Australia's aged care homes are for people aged 65 years and over and Aboriginal people aged 50 and over.
A younger person with exceptional circumstances may also be eligible if their needs cannot be met through other specialist services. Contact the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and ask what help is available for Australians with a permanent or significant disability.
If you are between the ages of 9 and 65 years, check if you can apply for NDIS support by visiting Am I eligible.
How can I access residential aged care?
To find out if you are eligible for subsidised aged care, there is a 2-part assessment process:
- an eligibility check which you can do online or over the phone
- an in-person assessment
To check your eligibility, you can:
- call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422
- visit the My Aged Care website
After your eligibility check, you may have an assessment. This is to better understand your needs.
The assessor will come to your house. The assessor will call ahead to arrange a time to visit.
There are 2 types of assessment:
- A home support assessment with a Regional Assessment Service — for low level support
- A comprehensive assessment with an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT)
How much will it cost?
Each aged care home sets their own prices. How much you need to pay depends on:
- the aged care home you chose
- the level of care you need
- your income and assets
There are 3 types of costs associated with all aged care homes. These fees are:
- accommodation costs
- a basic daily care fee
- a means-tested care fee
The accommodation cost is the cost for your room. It depends on your income and assets. The Government may contribute to this.
The basic daily care fee is what you pay to help cover expenses such as:
- meals
- laundry
- heating and cooling
- nursing care
- personal care
The means-tested care fee is an extra contribution you pay, based on an assessment of your income and assets.
You can use the fee estimator to get an idea of the costs you may have to pay. You can also call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.
Caring for someone else
Moving into residential aged care is often a challenging time.
It is an emotional decision for:
- the person moving
- their family
- their friends
- their carers
It might be time to consider an aged care home when your loved one has:
- problems getting around
- incontinence (wets or soils themselves)
- challenging behaviours like wandering
- problems communicating
- problems with thinking, planning, and memory
Even if moving to an aged care home is the best choice, you may feel unsettled.
There are many ways you can help care for your relative or friend living in an aged care home.
The My Aged Care website has a fact sheet about caring for someone in an aged care home.
Resources and support
For further information:
- call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422
- go to the My Aged Care website
You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Do you prefer to read in languages other than English?
- My Aged Care can help you access aged care information in other languages.
- You can also contact the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) for support to talk to My Aged Care.
Looking for information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people?
- My Aged Care provides support for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people looking to find the right aged care provider.
Looking for information for sexually and gender-diverse families?
- Visit Silver Rainbow for information on ageing and aged care.
- My Aged Care provides support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: August 2024
