If you have not had an assessment, or are not sure what services are right for you, go to Not sure? Start here.
Read a general overview of aged care homes.
Pathway to enter an aged care home
After you have had an assessment and received your approval letter, follow the pathway to enter an aged care home and manage your services:
- Aged care homes costs
- Estimate costs
- Arrange your financial assessment
- Financial hardship assistance
- Other information about costs
- Meeting with providers
- Finding quality services
- Help accessing aged care services
3. Apply to an aged care home and accept an offer
- Filling in an application form
- Personal and financial information
- Being offered a place
- Accepting an offer
4. Enter into agreements with your aged care home
- Help understanding the agreements
- Rights and responsibilities
- What does the Resident Agreement cover?
- Signing the Resident Agreement
- Resident Agreements for respite care
- Changing the terms of your Resident Agreement
- Withdrawing from or cancelling the Resident Agreement
- Provider ending your Resident Agreement
- What does the Accommodation Agreement cover?
- Signing the Accommodation Agreement
- Help negotiating your care and accommodation costs
- Care and services you may be charged for
- How are my care needs classified?
- Fees for extra and additional services
- Health and personal care
- Concerns about your care and services
- Social activities
- Managing your money and affairs
- Taking time away
- Changing rooms
- Moving homes
- Leaving your aged care home
End of life care in an aged care home
There is help and support available if you are caring for someone living in an aged care home who is nearing the end of their life.
Booklet
For people who have been assessed as eligible for an aged care home, more information is available in the Steps to enter an aged care home booklet. You should receive a copy of the booklet from your assessor or you can download it. The booklet is also available in 18 other languages.
Help in other languages
If you need access to a translator or interpreter, call the Translating and Interpreting Services (TIS National) on 131 450. TIS covers more than 100 languages and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for the cost of a local call.
