Guide to navigating residential aged care

The costs and fees of living in an aged care home vary depending on the style of accommodation and amenities provided. At ARRCS, we publish the prices and rates for each of our aged care homes and care facilities. There are a few ways you can pay and you may qualify for Australian Government assistance, depending on your assets and income.

Generally, the cost is divided into three fees:

• Daily Care Fee: Covers meals, laundry etc and the amount is equivalent to 85% of the pension.
• Accommodation Fee: Covers accommodation and the amount, if any, depends on your income and assets; it comes in the form of a refundable lump sum, non-refundable daily payments, or a mix of both (hybrid).
• Means-Tested Fee: This charge is determined by the government and depends on your financial situation.

Government assistance is available to make sure you receive the care you need. Here’s what you need to do:

• Complete a Combined Asset and Income Assessment, which allows the Department of Human Services or Department of Veteran Affairs to decide if you are eligible for Government support.
• Try the My Aged Care Residential Fee Estimator, which will give you an estimate of the fees you may have to pay when entering into an aged care home.

Once you understand the costs involved and the government assistance available, there are two main steps to accessing residential aged care:

1. Get assessed: You will need to register with My Aged Care (MAC) and have an assessment by the Aged Care Assessment Team. You will receive a confirmation letter if you are approved for entry into an aged care home.
2. Apply to your preferred aged care home: Call our friendly team on 1300 881 510 to get the ball rolling, and when a room is available, you will be given a formal offer through a Permanent Residential Service Agreement.