Aged Care Facilities and Residential Aged Care Homes in Australia
Residential aged care, also called an aged care facility, aged care home or nursing home, provides accommodation with 24-hour personal and clinical care for older people who can no longer live safely at home. Homes deliver help with daily tasks, nursing, meals, medication management and social activities in one place.
Access to a government-subsidised place needs an assessment through My Aged Care, and what you pay depends on a means assessment: everyone pays a basic daily fee of $66.80, and people with higher means contribute more. The {count} homes below cover every state and territory, so you can compare facilities by location, star rating and price.
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Residential providers
What an aged care facility costs in 2026
Four costs apply to people entering from 1 November 2025. Everyone pays the basic daily fee of $66.80 a day (85% of the single age pension). Residents with higher means also pay a hotelling contribution of up to $22.15 a day and a non-clinical care contribution of up to $107.32 a day, the latter capped at $137,917 over a lifetime or four years of payments. Clinical care is free for everyone.
Accommodation is the fourth cost. Low-means residents get government help; others pay the room price they agree with the home, as a refundable lump sum (RAD, up to $789,686 without approval), a daily payment (DAP, the unpaid amount at 8.43% a year for 1 July to 30 September 2026), or both. A full pensioner with low assets pays only the basic daily fee; a self-funded resident in a $500,000 room pays around $311.75 a day all-in.
Star ratings, and how to compare homes
Every government-subsidised home has a Star Rating on My Aged Care from one to five stars, built from four measures: residents' experience (an independent survey), compliance with the Aged Care Quality Standards, staffing (care minutes delivered against the target), and quality indicators such as pressure injuries, falls and unplanned weight loss. Check the sub-ratings, not just the overall star; a four-star home with two stars for staffing is telling you something.
Then compare the published room prices and what is included, any higher everyday living fee for extras, dementia-specific units if relevant, and availability. Visit at a mealtime, ask how many registered nurses are on at night, and ask to see the latest Quality Standards audit outcome.
Respite and emergency entry
Most homes offer residential respite: a short stay, usually up to 63 days a year, that gives a carer a break or covers a period after hospital. Respite residents pay only the basic daily fee, no contributions or accommodation cost, and it is a practical way to trial a home before permanent entry. You need approval for respite from your aged care assessment.
Emergency entry is possible where a person needs care urgently, for example after a carer's hospitalisation; the home admits first and the assessment and means assessment follow. Ask homes directly whether they accept emergency admissions.
Eligibility, and the steps to get into a home
You need an aged care needs assessment that approves you for residential care, arranged through My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or online, and a means assessment from Services Australia (form SA457, or SA485 for pensioners who own a home) so the home knows what you will pay. The fee advice letter is valid for 120 days before entry.
Then apply to the homes you prefer; families usually apply to two or three because availability varies. Agree the room price before moving in (published prices are maximums), and choose RAD, DAP or a mix after you enter; you cannot be made to decide beforehand. Residential care is one of three types of aged care alongside the Commonwealth Home Support Programme and Support at Home; if staying home is still possible, the assessment will say so.
Guides to Aged Care Facilities
- Aged care fees calculatorEstimate your basic daily fee, contributions and accommodation cost from your income and assets
- Residential aged care fees explainedThe four costs, the caps and three worked examples
- RAD vs DAPHow to pay for the room, and what the 2% retention means
- The aged care means testWhat counts, the family home rules and the formula
- How to access aged careThe assessment and application steps
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter an aged care facility?
Everyone pays the basic daily fee of $66.80 a day. Depending on a means assessment you may also pay a hotelling contribution of up to $22.15 a day, a non-clinical care contribution of up to $107.32 a day (capped at $137,917 or four years), and an accommodation cost as a refundable deposit or daily payment. Low-means residents pay the basic fee and get help with accommodation.
How much does it cost to live in an aged care facility per year?
A full pensioner with low assets pays about $24,382 a year, all of it the basic daily fee. A self-funded resident paying the maximum contributions and a $500,000 room as a daily payment pays roughly $113,789 a year, of which about $39,172 stops after four years.
What is the difference between aged care and residential aged care?
Aged care covers three government programs: the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (entry-level help at home), Support at Home (funded in-home care), and residential aged care, which is moving into an aged care home with accommodation and 24-hour care. Residential aged care is for people who can no longer be supported safely at home.
How do I get into an aged care facility?
Arrange an aged care needs assessment through My Aged Care (1800 200 422), complete a means assessment with Services Australia, then apply to the homes you prefer and agree a room price. Families usually apply to more than one home because availability varies.
What are aged care Star Ratings?
A one-to-five star rating published on My Aged Care for every subsidised home, combining residents' experience, compliance, staffing (care minutes) and quality indicators such as falls and pressure injuries. Check the four sub-ratings as well as the overall rating when comparing homes.
Can I get respite care in an aged care home?
Yes. Residential respite is a short stay, usually up to 63 days a year, approved through your aged care assessment. Respite residents pay only the basic daily fee, and a respite stay is a practical way to trial a home before permanent entry.
Are the aged care homes on this site approved?
Yes. Residential aged care providers listed on AusCareGuide are sourced from the official My Aged Care register and are approved by the Australian Government to deliver aged care.