About residential aged care
Residential aged care is for older people who can no longer live in their own home.
It includes accommodation, personal care and access to nursing 24 hours a day, as well as general health care, social activities and everyday living services (e.g., catering).
We subsidise approved residential care homes to provide care and services to eligible older people eligible for permanent care or residential respite care.
Older people can read about aged care homes on the My Aged Care website.
Why its important
We know that older people want to live in their own home as they age.
When this is no longer possible, it is important they have options to move into an aged care home.
Additionally, residential respite care gives a carer or older person a break from their usual care arrangements.
We subsidise residential aged care to make sure all older people can access this aged care when they need it.
Who can provide residential aged care
Government-funded residential aged care is delivered by providers who are registered with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) at Category 6. Residential care homes must also be approved by the ACQSC.
Registered providers must meet all requirements under the Aged Care Act 2024, including the Aged Care Quality Standards.
Learn more:
- Before providing residential aged care services
- Responsibilities of residential aged care providers
- Aged Care Provider Requirements Search Tool.
Delivering residential aged care
Residential aged care provides care, accommodation and everyday living services to older people so they can maintain their health and wellbeing.
Registered providers must deliver services set out in the Residential Care Services List.
Aged care homes provide accommodation and help with:
- day-to-day tasks, such as cleaning, cooking and laundry
- personal care, such as bathing, dressing and going to the toilet
- access to health practitioner services, clinical care and therapies
- other services, such as social and emotional support, and entertainment.
Learn more about delivering services under residential aged care.
Older people can learn more about what aged care homes provide on My Aged Care.
Who is eligible for residential aged care
Older people have an aged care needs assessment to check their eligibility and get approval to access government-funded residential aged care.
To be eligible for an assessment, older people must be:
- aged 65 years or over
- an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person and is aged at least 50
- homeless, or at risk of homelessness, and is aged at least 50.
Depending on a person’s needs, they may be approved for permanent care or residential respite care.
Residential aged care is not designed to support people under the age of 65 years. Eligible younger people should be informed of other available services to meet their care needs and only access residential aged care in exceptional circumstances.
Older people can apply for an aged care assessment through My Aged Care.
Entering permanent residential aged care
If approved for permanent care, an older person is assigned a residential care place to choose an aged care home that best suits their needs.
Once they enter, the aged care home will receive subsidies and supplements on a resident’s behalf, including an initial entry adjustment payment.
Residents will have a residential aged care funding assessment to determine a funding classification to meet their care needs.
For more information, older people can refer to Steps to enter an aged care home booklet on My Aged Care.
Residential respite care
Residential respite care is short-term care provided in an aged care home. It can be on a planned or emergency basis.
Once assessed and approved, older people are entitled to 63 days of subsidised respite care each financial year. They can apply for an extension of up to 21 days.
When a person is staying in residential respite care, the aged care home is responsible for providing all the care and services they need as an individual.
Emergency entry
An older person may enter residential aged care under urgent circumstances without an assessment and approval. Within 5 days, a provider must:
- help the person to complete the Application for Emergency Residential Care or Residential Respite Care Form
- submit the form (including supporting information) for referral to their local assessment organisation.
Providers may request an extension by emailing us at MyAgedCare.Assessment@health.gov.au.
The assessment organisation will then register the older person in My Aged Care (if required) and conduct an aged care needs assessment.
Funding residential aged care
Registered providers are paid subsidies and supplements on behalf of each permanent and respite care resident to meet their assessed care needs.
Learn about funding for residential aged care.
Cost of residential aged care
Costs of living in residential aged care vary.
- There are costs that are the same for all residents. For example, a basic daily fee.
- There are costs that are based on a resident’s means and that are determined by Services Australia. For example, a means tested fee or an accommodation contribution
- There are costs based on a resident’s means that are then agreed between a provider and a resident. For example, an agreed room price.
Each residential care home sets and publishes its own room prices for different kinds of rooms. Registered providers can read more about charging for residential aged care.
My Aged Care has information for older people on:
- costs and understanding room pricing
- how to apply for a subsidised place
- how much a resident is likely to pay, using the fee estimator
- financial assistance to help with the cost of accommodation and services.
Governance
As the System Governor, we have oversight of residential aged care, including:
- developing policy for funding, fees and delivery of residential aged care
- allocating capital grants through the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program.
- conducting assurance activities, such as checking 24/7 RN and care minutes
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission:
- approves applications for registered providers to deliver residential aged care
- monitors and assesses providers to ensure quality care is delivered in line with the Aged Care Quality Standards and other requirements
- resolves, reports and manages complaints.
Learn more about aged care regulation and governance.