Moving into your aged care home is a big decision, and it’s important to understand the costs associated with your care. Residential aged care fees are regulated by the Australian Government and may be subsidised based on your income and assets. There are three main types:
Basic daily care fee
- Covers your daily living costs (e.g. meals, power, laundry, personal care)
- Paid by all aged care home residents
- Everyone can be asked to pay this fee and if you are eligible it will be 85% of the single person Age Pension.
- Adjusted each March and September in line with changes to the Age Pension
Means-tested care fee
- You can be asked to pay this fee is your income and assets are over a certain amount
- Calculated by the Department of Human Services (DHS)
- Annual and lifetime caps apply
Accommodation fee
- Covers your accommodation in the home
- May be met in full or in part by the government
- Only payable if your income and assets are over a certain amount
- Assessed by the Department of Human Services (DHS)
Extra service fees
Some of the rooms at Georges Estate are extra service rooms and an additional daily fee is charged for the bundle of upgraded hotel-type services provided. See more details on the Georges Estate Superior Services Package.
The costs of respite care
The cost of respite care varies and will depend on the services you access and the funding you are eligible for. If you can afford to, you will be expected to contribute to the cost of respite care. How much you’ll have to pay depends on your income.
If you access residential respite in an aged care home you’ll be charged a daily fee to cover the cost of your care. The maximum daily fee for a respite resident is set by the Government at 85 percent of the single basic Age Pension. The stay is temporary so you won’t need to pay an accommodation deposit or bond.
To find out more about this you can visit the My Aged Care website.
Accommodation payment options
If you need to pay an accommodation fee, there are three ways you can do so. Whatever you need to pay, we’ll work with you to find options within your budget.
Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD)
A lump sum payment that’s refunded when you leave. Differs by aged care home based on room pricing.
Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP)
A daily payment that’s billed monthly. Differs by aged care home and based on room pricing.
Combination payment option
Combines RAD and DAP, so you pay part lump sum and part daily payment.
For more information about Residential Aged Care pricing and your options visit the Commonwealth Government My Aged Care website. There are many resources available to assist you in understanding the process, pricing and regulations that govern it.