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Costs for different types of care

Costs for the community care services listed here will vary, according to the kind of help and the number of hours you may need.

Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Program

Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres provide you with free and confidential information on community aged care, disability and other support services available locally, interstate or anywhere within Australia.

Read more: About Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres

Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACATs)

A meeting with Aged Care Assessment Team is necessary to be eligible for many government services. You will not be charged for visits by team members.

Read more: About being assessed

Home and Community Care Program (HACC)

Some services may charge a small fee. The fee may vary between states and territories. This is dependent on your income and the number of services that you use – you can ask your local HACC provider, such as a Meals on Wheels service, about the cost of the services you require. Special arrangements can be made if you cannot afford to pay.

Read more: About Home & Community Care Program

Community Aged Care Packages (CACP)

Community Aged Care Package providers can also request fees from you if you’re able to contribute to the cost of your care. The amount charged forms part of an agreement between you and the service provider. If you are on the maximum basic rate of pension, fees must not be more than 17.5% of that pension (excluding the GST compensation supplement). However, if you’re on a higher income you may be asked to pay additional fees (limited to 50% of any income above the maximum pension rate).

However, you won’t be denied a service that you need based on an inability to pay fees.

Read more: About Community Aged Care Packages

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Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH)

You may be asked to pay a fee for an EACH package of care (GST free). The amount charged forms part of an agreement between you and the service provider.

As for CACP, fees must not exceed 17.5% of the maximum basic rate of pension. However, if you’re on a higher income you may be asked to pay additional fees up to 50% of any income above the maximum pension rate – however, you won’t be denied a service that you need based on an inability to pay.

Read more: About Extended Aged Care at Home

Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia (EACH D)

You may be asked to pay a fee for an EACH D package of care (GST free). The amount charged forms part of an agreement between you and the service provider.

As for CACP, fees must not exceed 17.5% of the maximum basic rate of pension. However, if you’re on a higher income you may be asked to pay additional fees up to 50% of any income above the maximum pension rate – however, you won’t be denied a service that you need based on an inability to pay.

Read more: About Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia

Veterans’ Home Care

Veterans’ Home Care (VHC) services are similar to HACC services, and include domestic assistance, personal care, safety-related home and garden maintenance and respite care (more information).

Veterans and war widows/widowers are expected to pay a small co-payment for all services provided through Veterans’ Home Care, except for respite care. The Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) also provides financial assistance for eligible veterans, war widows or widowers and their dependants, through income support pensions and associated benefits and allowances, including financial assistance for in-home respite.

Read more: About Veterans Home Care

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Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres and The Network of Carer Associations

There is lots of assistance available for carers today, including timely, quality information, carer education and support that’s both culturally and linguistically sensitive. If you have a family member or friend who helps you to continue living at home, you may also be interested in respite care opportunities, which give you and your carer the chance to take a short break. There is no charge for the assistance provided at either the Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres or the Network of Carer Associations. If you use a referred service, then individual service fees may apply. Call 1800 052 222 (free call) during business hours or, for emergency respite support outside standard business hours, call 1800 059 059 (free call) for more information.

Fees for respite in an aged care home

People who enter and receive respite in aged care homes funded by government can be asked to pay a maximum of $29.25 per day. In this case, a booking fee may also be charged to assist in securing a place. This is a prepayment of respite care fees and not an additional payment. Moreover, it cannot be more than a full week’s fee, or 25% of the fee for the entire stay, whichever amount is the lowest. Respite residents in government-funded aged care homes do not pay an accommodation charge or accommodation bond – nor do they have to pay any additional income-tested charges.

Fees for respite at home or in a day care centre

People who receive respite services in their own home or at a day care centre pay fees according to the type of service they receive. The amounts can vary, from an hourly rate for in-home respite, to a sessional fee for a morning or afternoon in a day care centre.

Read more: About Short-term care

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Financial support for carers during respite care breaks

Financial assistance is available to eligible carers by means of the Carer Payment (more information) or Carer Allowance (more information).

If you’re a carer receiving either of these payments, you can continue to receive the payments for up to 63 days each calendar year if the person you care for is receiving respite or temporarily in hospital. If in hospital, the person you care for must be intending to return home, unless they’re receiving terminal care. In which case, you need to continue your caring role during their stay in hospital if you intend to continue claiming this type of financial assistance. You can visit Centrelink for more information or call them on 13 27 17.

Read more: About financial support

Centrelink

Contact Centrelink for information about the above pensions and benefits, as well as information about Rent Assistance, the Age Pension and concession cards. Centrelink also provides an independent financial planning service that’s free, whether or not you’re receiving a pension or benefit.

Day Therapy Centres

There are over 140 Day Therapy Centres operating nationally, with most located in or near aged care homes. These centres may provide you with a wide range of therapy services such as physiotherapy (more information), occupational and speech therapy (more information), podiatry (more information) and other therapies. There may be a fee for services provided by Day Therapy Centres. However, you won’t be denied access to services based on an inability to pay fees.

Read more: About Day Therapy Centres

Transition Care Program

If you’ve just been in hospital, the Australian Government provides funding for up to 12 weeks of transition care, giving you and your family time to determine whether you can return home or require the level of care provided by an aged care home. If you’re in residential aged care, the government also pays your approved provider a subsidy while you’re in transition care to ensure that there is a place reserved for you when you return from transition care.

Read more: About the Transition Care Program

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This page was last updated on: 02 September 2008