All aged care organisations deliver their services differently and charge different amounts. So, it’s important to look around and compare providers before deciding who to get your services from.

There are three main things you should consider:

Older couple laughing

 

    Services – Finding aged care providers that meet your needs

    Location, services offered, and availability are among the first things to research when you are looking for a provider. You should also look for providers who fit your needs, such as your culture, background, faith, or health requirements. Use the Find a provider tool to find service providers in your area that meet your needs. You can also use this tool to see which providers deliver specialised care for diverse needs groups.

    Once you have found and shortlisted a few providers, contacting them will help to determine if they are right for you.

    Select the situation that applies to you from the list below.

    Using non government-funded providers

    There may be situations where you need or prefer to use a provider that isn't funded by the Australian Government. For example, while you’re waiting for government-funded services to be available.

    Read more about your options on the non government-funded providers page.

    Quality – Making sure you receive a good standard of care

    Knowing that you will receive good quality care is an important consideration when choosing an aged care provider. But what should you expect from them? And how can you be sure an organisation will offer the best quality of care for you? Our Quality in aged care page explains what good quality aged care should be and how to find out who is delivering quality care.

    Every provider listed on this site is regulated by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and needs to meet a strict set of regulations and quality standards. So, the Find a provider tool is a great place to start searching.

    You will see additional information on the performance of aged care homes, and providers delivering Home Care Packages.

    Read more on finding good quality care.

    Costs – Determining what you will need to pay

    There are a few factors that determine how much you pay for your aged care:

    • the type of care you’re approved for,
    • the provider you choose,
    • and what you can afford.

    All the providers listed in the Find a provider tool can offer government-subsidised care. This means that, if you’re eligible for services, the government will pay part or all of your costs. Different providers have different charges, so it’s important to know what to look out for and how to negotiate costs.

    There are different costs and fees for each type of care. Understanding these costs and how to work out your own costs can help you decide which provider is right for you.

    Learn more about aged care costs.

    Fee-paying aged care navigation and placement services

    There are many free Government supports available to help you find and connect with government-funded aged care services. However, some people decide to use fee-paying services for different reasons. If you decide to use a fee-paying service, we’ve put together some tips and recommendations to keep in mind. Read more.

    What else do people ask at this step?

    What is the wait time for services?

    It depends on what services you need and where you are. Commonwealth Home Support Programme services depend on the availability of  providers in your area, while the wait time for approved Home Care Packages can be more than 12 months. Those with urgent needs are also prioritised to receive services.

    For aged care homes, it depends mainly on the waitlist for a room at your preferred home. If you need emergency services, call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 and we can work with you to find more immediate options.

    Read more

    What will I need to set up my services?

    There are three things your preferred provider will ask you for, so it’s worth having multiple copies of them to hand: 

    1. Referral code – this shows which service you have been recommended by the assessor.
    2. Pre-commencement letter – this shows how much you will pay towards the costs (for Home Care Packages and aged care homes only).
    3. Care plan – this shows all of the actions recommended by your assessor.
    Find out more about setting up a new aged care service
    See more FAQs

    What you need to know

    Find a provider

    Search for the right aged care provider for you.
    Understanding costs

    Learn how to work out your costs and how much you might have to pay. 
    Setting up a new service

    Find out how to set up a new service once you’ve chosen your provider. 

    The right service provider can be life-changing

    See how finding the right provider changed Mrs Dou's life, and created a new lifelong friend and companion in carer Joanna.

    MRS DOU: I came from Shanghai, China. Since I have arrived in Australia, I am very happy.

    JOANNA: I've been looking after Mrs Dou for over three years. My service to them is weekly and every time, I will stay with her for 2 hours.

    MRS DOU: I am grateful to Joanna, she has done a lot of things for me. She is very considerate.

    JOANNA: She had a very bad fall and that time, she really don't have any confidence in walking. The hospital and I had to help her to walk. Today you can see, she walks very confidently, even without a walking frame.

    MRS DOU: So I am happy and my health is better than before.

    JOANNA: I will be really grateful I got the chance to look after her, because Mrs Dou is always very considerate and caring. Sometimes I think she is my carer. (Laughs)

    Because they always make sure I have a lovely cup of hot coffee. The bonding with her, I would say, is very strong.

    MRS DOU: Like her very much. Like she is my own family.

    JOANNA: This service is very important to elderly people because they can stay at their own place and more independent and feeling comfortable and safe. The service is very good. It's helped me very, very much.
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