Caring for the elderly or aged means caring for someone who is either:

• older than 65

• older than 50 for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people.

It may be your parent, grandparent, extended family member or loved one.

You have access to the same services and payments as other carers. You may need to take time off work for caring responsibilities. You’ll need to make sure you also care for yourself.

Older Australians can access both government-funded and private aged care services, each with different costs, eligibility rules and flexibility. Understanding the differences between these options can help you or your loved ones make informed choices about the right support at home or in care.

Key points:

My Aged Care will be your first point of contact if you are in looking to access Government funded aged care services.

A RAS or ACAT/S assessment can determine what services will best suit your needs.

If you are found eligible for government-funded services, you will then be able to start looking for aged care providers.

The Star Ratings system debuted in December 2022 and it was designed to help families find high-quality aged care providers.

The five-star scale was introduced in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. It was meant to distil complex care metrics — Resident Experience (33 percent), Compliance (30 percent), Staffing (22 percent) and Quality Measures (15 percent) — into a digestible score.

Hospital admissions can be distressing for individuals and costly for healthcare systems. Many of these admissions, particularly for older adults and those with chronic conditions, can be prevented through adequate support at home. Home Care Packages (HCPs) play a vital role in reducing hospital entries by providing tailored care that promotes health, safety and independence.

The number of Australians aged over 65 is expected to more than double in the next 40 years while the number of people aged over 85 is predicted to triple in that time.ⁱ

Aged care funding and services have seen major changes in the years since the 2021 report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, and this year is no exception.

After a long wait, new legislation which is aimed at reshaping how aged care is delivered and funded in Australia has been passed.

Like most countries around the world, our population continues to age, making it important to have a sustainable aged care system that provides quality care and treats our older Australians with dignity.

Changes to aged care fees are coming, and they will impact both home care and residential care. After a long wait and lots of speculation, the government has released details of the proposed changes.

If you are worried about the need to access aged care, you are not alone. When the time comes it can be daunting, with a lot of new information to take in and many decisions to make. The responsibility to make the right decision for yourself, or a loved one, may weigh heavily on your mind.

Moving into residential aged care can trigger a range of emotions, particularly if it involves the sale of the family home.

What is often a major financial asset, is also one that many people believe should be either kept in the family or its value preserved for future generations.

This year’s Federal Budget focussed on the rising costs of living and how to help Australians manage. Before the Budget there was speculation that we would see changes for aged care funding and fees, but what made it into the Budget?

Many people think they can’t afford to get aged care advice, but the reality is you probably can’t afford not to get advice.

RADs, DAPs, MPIRs, MTAs and ACATs !! These are just a few of the acronyms you will face when navigating aged care decisions.

Retirement villages and residential aged care facilities offer different lifestyles and services, and they aren't direct substitutes for each other.

In the following article, our Aged Care Specialist Leandro Bonin explores this important subject further, providing insights to help you start planning ahead and achieve your objectives.

Money you pay as a lump sum for your residential aged care room will be refunded to your estate – so what do you need to know about when and how your money is refunded.

It might sound like alphabet soup, but the CHSP and HCP are two Home Care programs funded by the government. CHSP stands for the Commonwealth Home Support Program and HCP is the Home Care Package Program.

Confused about aged care fees and what it all means? You are not alone. In this article we simplify the basics of aged care fees for you.

If you, or someone you love, need to make a move into residential aged care, understanding the fees and getting a clear picture of what it will cost is not easy.

Moving into residential aged care can be a stressful period with complicated rules, family conflicts and rushed timeframes. This can easily lead to mistakes, which can be costly and difficult to rectify. This article highlights three common mistakes and tips to avoid the traps.

In today’s modern business landscape, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the economy.

However, lost amid the grind to balance books, meet customer demands, and stay afloat, there’s an often-overlooked factor: prioritising mental health.

Life is filled with changes. But with preparation and good advice, you may be able to manage the changes more effectively to minimise the stress.

Watching your spouse’s health decline can be difficult and stressful. And if this decline results in a move to aged care, you will both be faced with a lot of changes.

Aging at home with government-subsidised funding is made possible through the Home Care Packages program.

However, a crackdown on what the funds can be used for and a shortage of support workers, can make it challenging to understand the funding available.