Current location
You are here: help with aged care homes > how to get started > your optionsHelp with aged care homes
Your options
Sometimes people have little or no time to plan, and need to move into an aged care home urgently. This can be very stressful, so it helps to know what you can and can’t expect.
- Two types of care
- Care and services you can be sure of
- Homes that provide ‘extra service’
- Do I have to pay to live in an aged care home?
- What if I can’t afford to pay?
- Will I need to move again if my needs change?
Two types of care
There are two broad types of aged care — low level and high level. Your Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT or ACAS in Victoria) (more information) will discuss your needs with you.Low level care homes (which used to be called hostels) generally provide accommodation and personal care, such as help with dressing and showering, and nursing care, when required.
High level care homes (previously known as nursing homes) care for people who are more frail, and who often need continuous nursing care.
Care and services you can be sure of
All aged care homes must provide a range of care and services for all residents, with some additional services for individuals, depending on their needs. These include:- staff to provide you with help at all times, including in an emergency
- staff to help you with daily living activities such as bathing or showering, dressing and moving around
- help with your medications
- meals and refreshments, taking into account your diet, if you are restricted in what and when you can eat
- the furniture you use every day, together with clean linen, and items such as soap and toilet paper
- washing and ironing of your clothes
- changing of your bed and bath linen
- cleaning of your room as well as the communal areas, and
- arranging social activities.
Next step: Aged Care Home Finder
Homes that provide ‘extra service’
The Australian Government requires that every resident of an aged care home receives the same high quality care. However some aged care homes provide ‘extra service’. This means the home can provide you with a higher standard of accommodation and services, which will cost you more — for instance, a bigger room, or wine with your meals.Read more: Extra services you can pay for
Do I have to pay to live in an aged care home?
The Australian Government provides substantial funding to aged care homes, but most residents will also pay a number of fees and charges to the home, depending on their income and assets. These fees include:- basic daily fees and income tested fees (more information), and
- accommodation payments (more information).
What if I can’t afford to pay?
If people genuinely can’t afford to pay, hardship provisions allow your fees and charges to be reduced or waived. The Aged Care Information Line (more information) can discuss these provisions with you, call them on 1800 500 853.Read more: What if I can’t afford to pay?
Will I need to move again if my needs change?
While some aged care homes specialise in either low level or high level care, many homes provide both care levels, which might allow you stay in one location even if your needs increase. Each aged care home can advise whether it can offer this option, known as ‘ageing in place’ (more information).Read more: Ageing in place
Common questions on this topic:
- What sort of accommodation and care is available in residential aged care homes?
- My mother has gone into an aged care home. Now my father has been assessed as needing care. How can I ensure they can stay together?
- My mum is in the early stages of Alzheimer's and is quite forgetful, especially about her handbag. But she always wants her bag and always checks that her purse is in it. It takes a lot of my time finding the bag and reassuring her about her purse. Will the home do this?
See more common questions on this topic | See all common questions