Managing residential aged care services

This section outlines what’s required in managing an approved residential care home. This includes managing fees, temporary leave, accommodation costs and respite care. It also has information about how to prepare documentation, review care needs, exiting residents and meet reporting requirements.

  • Places to people – Embedding choice in residential aged care
    Older people are allocated a residential care place when approved for care. This is their entitlement to access government-funded residential aged care. To help us monitor availability, you must report changes to operational beds with the Local Network.
  • Service agreements
    You must enter into a residential aged care service agreement with a person before you can provide services. You must include certain details, provide a copy to the person, and make sure they understand and agree to it. Review the agreement as needed, and update it if you both agree to the changes.
  • Accommodation agreements for residential aged care
    An accommodation agreement sets out a person’s residential aged care accommodation costs. You must include certain details, provide a copy to the person, and make sure they understand and agree to it. Review the agreement as needed, and update it if you both agree to the changes.
  • Ongoing care discussions
    You must have ongoing discussions with your residents. These help you to manage their care, ensure services meet their care needs and goals, and identify any issues or concerns.
  • Managing residential respite care
    Residential respite care gives an older person or their carer a break from their usual care arrangements. It can be on a planned or emergency basis. It is important to monitor how many days of respite care a person is approved for and request an extension if needed.
  • Managing fees
    Agreeing, collecting and reviewing fees is part of managing a residential care home. Providers have responsibilities they must meet to properly manage fees.
  • Managing accommodation costs
    Collecting, reviewing and managing accommodation costs is part of managing a residential care home. Find out how to manage accommodation costs for residents under different arrangements.
  • Managing temporary leave
    Residents are entitled to take leave from permanent residential aged care. Residents have unlimited hospital and transition care leave. They can also take leave for social reasons. Find out how this affects fees and subsidies.
  • Moving residents between rooms
    There are many reasons why a resident may need to move rooms, or move to another residential care home. Find out what these are and what you need to do in this situation.
  • Exiting residents from residential aged care
    A resident can exit an aged care home at any time. There are also instances when you can ask them to leave. You may need to refund some fees when a resident exits.
  • Refunding lump sums in residential aged care
    You must refund a resident’s accommodation lump sum balance when they permanently leave your care. You may have to pay interest until you pay the refund.
  • Notification of changes
    You need to notify us of certain changes and keep details up to date. You need to let Services Australia know when a resident enters or leaves your care. You must notify the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission about changes in circumstances.
  • Reporting
    You have a range of reporting requirements under the Aged Care Act 2024. This includes reporting finances, care time, quality indicators, serious incidents and refundable deposit balances.
Date last updated:

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