If you would like to move to a different aged care home, it’s important to be open with both your current and new provider to ensure they know your plans and can support you where possible. The following steps can help you plan your move.
Before you plan your move, you will need to confirm:
your preferred home has a room available
what date you can move in.
If you haven’t yet been offered a room, talk to the home you are interested in to find out how to apply. You should wait until you are offered a room at your new home, before you formally advise your current provider.
If you are happy with the offer, you can accept it. Once you accept, the new home will formalise the offer. Learn more about agreeing to an aged care home.
Once you accept a room in a new aged care home, you should tell your current home as quickly as possible. Each home has its own moving processes, so talking to your provider early allows you to prepare for the move.
At this stage, you can discuss payment of your aged care fees and your refund preference, if you paid a lump sum. You can also discuss the date that you would like the move to happen. Your current home can’t make you leave until you have alternative accommodation. However, they may have a notice period, which you will find in your resident agreement.
You can ask the aged care homes to liaise directly to ensure your move goes smoothly. Or you can discuss the move date with each home yourself. It is important that the moving date is suitable for everyone.
Please allow 7 days for your current home to accept your move and release your service.
If you have any issues, you can call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.
Speak with your new aged care home about what they will provide to ensure you have what you need in your new room.
Your current home may be able to help pack your belongings and speak with your new home about the moving and transfer arrangements. Both homes have a duty of care to ensure your move to the new home is safe and comfortable.
You may be able to pay a pre-entry fee that enables you to reserve a spot in your home, up to 7 days before you enter care. This gives you time to make arrangements before you move into your home. You can only be asked to pay the basic daily fee during this time.
What happens if I paid a lump sum?
The balance of any lump sum you paid is refundable, but how it works depends on the date you entered an aged care home.
Your accommodation bond balance can be transferred directly to your new care aged home.
You can also choose to enter the new aged care home under the post 1 November 2025 fee arrangements. Your new provider must give you information on this before you move into the new home.
Your accommodation deposit will be refunded within 14 days after you leave. However, the amount of notice you give the aged care home can impact when you receive your refund. Learn more about aged care accommodation refunds.
You will need to enter another accommodation agreement with your new home before you move. As with your previous aged care home, the new home cannot ask you to pay a lump sum before you move in. You can choose to pay a lump sum any time after you enter care. You will need to pay by non-refundable daily payments until you pay a lump sum and/or the first provider refunds your accommodation deposit.
Once you are permanently living in an aged care home, your place is secure, and you should be able to stay there for as long as the provider is able to care for you. This is called ‘Security of Tenure’. However, there are times when you may be asked to leave the home. This could be if:
the home is closing
the home can no longer provide a suitable level of care and accommodation
you no longer need the care the home provides
your fees are more than 42 days overdue, for reasons within your control
you cause serious damage to the facility or another person
you’re away for more than 7 days (not counting authorised leave or emergencies).
You will have 14 days’ notice in writing if you need to move. No matter the reason, you cannot be asked to move until a suitable alternative (that meets your needs and that you can afford) is available. If you have any concerns about being asked to leave, talk to the manager of your home in the first instance.
