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Types of aged care assistance
There are a range of aged care services available in Australia and if you’re eligible, the Australian Government subsidises these services.
Help at home
You can access a range of services designed to help you stay independent at home including help around the home, aids to stay independent, social outings and transport, and personal therapies.
Short-term care
Short-term care can help you recover after a stay in hospital, help you build up skills to keep you independent after, or provide respite care if your usual carer is taking a break.
Depending on the type of short-term care you access, help can be provided for a few days to a few months at a time.
Aged care homes
An aged care home is for people who cannot continue to live at home and need assistance with daily care.
Aged care homes provide both accommodation and personal and clinical care.
Three steps to consider for aged care
There are typically three steps you need to take before entering residential aged care.
How much does aged care cost?
The fees you pay for aged care are made up of four different categories. We’ve summarised those and provided an indicative average of the costs.
- Overview
- Basic daily fee
- Means tested care fee
- Accommodation costs
- Extra services
Aged care fees are broken into four categories.
- Basic daily fee
- Means tested care fee
- Accommodation costs
- Fees for extra services
The basic daily fee is used to cover the day-to-day expenses such as meals, laundry and cleaning.
The average cost for the basic daily fee was $63.57 per day or $23,203 per year as at September 2024.
*Per day as at September 2024
This fee is an extra contribution that some people pay, as determined through a means assessment. It is an ongoing fee towards the cost of your personal and clinical care.
This is paid in addition to the basic daily fee.
Your means tested care fee will be between $0 and $416.05 per day.
The maximum amount of means tested care fees an aged care home can charge you as of 20 September 2024 is:
- $34,174 per year, or
- $78,524.69 in a lifetime.
When you’re entering aged care, you will need to agree on a room price in writing with the care provider. Whether or not you need to pay the agreed amount will depend on your means assessment.
You can pay the accommodation amount as a lump sum called a Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) or as a Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP) which is a non-refundable daily payment), or a combination of both.
Source: Department of Health and Aged Care - Financial Report on the Australian Aged Care Sector 2020-21
Some aged care facilities charge additional fees. It’s a good idea to check if any aged care facility you are considering charge either of these:
- Additional service fees: Fees for services that go beyond the minimum care and service requirements.
- Extra service fees: Fees you might have to pay if you choose an extra service room in an aged care home that has extra service status.
Tools to help you calculate aged care fees
There are a number of tools provided by the Government to help you estimate the cost of aged care and help you locate and assess aged care facilities in your preferred area.Are you eligible for Government assistance?
Find out if you’re eligible to receive Government subsidised aged care services.
Estimate fees
Answer a few questions about your income, assets and household to receive an estimate of what your fees may be.
Find a provider
You can search for an aged care provider by name or by area.
Income and means assessment
Your personal financial situation will determine your eligibility to access Government subsidies for aged care services.
Getting financial advice
A financial adviser can help you understand your options and then provide personalised advice on the best options for your circumstances. We’ve put together some questions you might like to ask your financial adviser.
You can also receive free financial information through Services Australia's Aged Care Specialist Officers (ACSOs) and Financial Information Service (FIS). They can also provide information about the Home Equity Access Scheme.