Understanding Aged Care in Australia
Aged Care in Australia is a spectrum that ranges across:
- Home care
- Independent living
- Assisted living
- Retirement living
- Respite care
- Residential aged care
When the level of care required for your loved one reaches a point where it is no longer feasible for them to live at home, it's time to start thinking about Residential Aged Care, which is our area of expertise. This may include either permanent placement or temporary solutions such as respite care, depending on your family's situation.
Entering Residential Aged Care is a 3-step process:
Step 1: Getting Your ACAS Assessment - Your Passport to Aged Care
Register for a government Aged Care Assessment Services (ACAS) assessment through the My Aged Care website. The ACAS assessment is the passport into the world of residential aged care as it enters the resident into the government system and produces a clinical report.
Step 2: Finding the Right Facility Match
Start touring aged care facilities to find one that is appropriate for your loved one both personally and clinically. Some key aspects to consider are:
- Level of care
- Proximity to family
- Cultural compatibility
- Additional services provided
Step 3: Navigating the Financial Complexity
Moving family members into aged care is difficult and emotional. The need to move often arrives with little warning and leads to a complex array of decisions.
After selecting a facility, families must navigate a range of considerations, including funding of accommodation deposits (RAD/RAC), daily care fees, Higher Everyday Living Fees (HELF), Hotelling Supplement Contributions (HSC), Centrelink Non-Clinical Care Contributions (NCCC), pension entitlements, and the question of whether to sell the family home. Many of these costs are means-tested, so residents may pay none, some, or all depending on their assets and income.
For a comprehensive breakdown of all aged care costs and payment options, read our Complete Guide to Aged Care Costs in Australia.
Why Professional Guidance Matters
Our team provides financial modelling to help you compare aged care costs across different facilities and funding strategies, giving your family clarity and control.
Decisions must often be made quickly, with confusing acronyms like RAD, DAP, RAC, DAC, HELF, HSC, and NCCC, alongside the challenge of navigating Centrelink assessments and pension rules.
With the New Aged Care Act 2025 now in effect, understanding the new rules, including RAD retention amounts, fee caps, and means-tested contributions, is essential for accurate planning.
Our expert aged care advisors work closely with families to develop strategic plans that simplify the process, focusing on long-term financial outcomes. We explain how each choice impacts fees, government entitlements, and Centrelink obligations, helping families potentially save tens of thousands of dollars each year.
Our Comprehensive Support Process
- Introductory Meeting: We provide you with a simplified overview of the costs of aged care. In this meeting we can provide advice and assistance on sourcing the appropriate accommodation if necessary.
- Financial Modelling: We explore scenarios for funding the entry and ongoing fees, including options to retain the family home. Each scenario assesses the impact on costs, Centrelink fees, and pensions over a 5–10 year period.
- Review Meeting: We will then review the modelling with the family, and any accountants or financial planners, in order to explain and update the modelling where necessary. This allows the family to make an informed decision on how to fund the entry fees and ongoing monthly costs.
- Facility Negotiation: If required, we will communicate with the facility on your behalf. Whilst we cannot guarantee success, our experience and relationships with aged care facilities can often allow us to negotiate the RAD and Higher Everyday Living Fee fees.
- Contract Review: We work with the facility to finalise the contract, ensuring all details are accurate.
- Centrelink Guidance: We provide guidance on the Centrelink forms that may or may not be required. The means testing process is often the most confusing aspect of aged care planning. Our detailed guide explains understanding the Non-Clinical Care Contribution and how this complex assessment affects your ongoing costs.
- Ongoing Support: We remain available for ongoing queries, including reviewing invoices from the facility once your loved one has moved into care
Melbourne-Based, Australia-Wide Service
We are based in Melbourne and assist families both locally and across Australia, offering peace of mind through each stage of the aged care journey.
Our experienced aged care advisors provide personalised support tailored to your family's unique situation. They help simplify complex decisions and ensure you feel confident navigating care options and financial responsibilities.