Better health and ageing for all Australians

Aged and Community Care

Aged Care Homes Services

Information on the services available through aged care homes.

In this section:

Aged Care Homes

There are basic services that residential aged care facilities must provide to residents, at no additional cost. These are called 'specified care and services'. There are two categories of specified care and services, which include those services to be provided to all residents and those to be provided to residents receiving high level care.

Services that must be provided at no additional charge, for all residents who need them, irrespective of their level of care include:
  • basic accommodation related services, such as beds, mattresses, linen, bedside lockers and chairs;
  • general laundry and cleaning services;
  • maintenance of buildings and grounds
  • the provision of staff continuously on call to provide emergency assistance
  • assistance with personal care, such as bathing, toileting, eating and dressings;
  • assistance with mobility and communication
  • meals, including special diets
  • toiletry goods such as towels, washers, soap, and toilet paper;
  • support for people with dementia;
  • and social activities.
Residents receiving high level care must be provided with additional services to those listed above. These include the following items as appropriate to individual care needs:
  • wheelchairs;
  • sheepskins;
  • water and air mattresses;
  • continence aids;
  • some basic medications and dressings;
  • therapy services (such as speech therapy, podiatry, occupational, recreational and physiotherapy);
  • oxygen and oxygen equipment;
  • and registered nurses to assess, plan and manage care.
Some residential aged care homes provide both low and high care so that residents do not have to move if their care needs change. It is important to ask a home what level of care it can provide.
Top of page