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this monthGUIDES & RESOURCES
Make sense of aged care.
Plain-English guides for families navigating aged care fees, facilities, and decisions.
38 guides
Most read
Start Here
A calm first-steps guide for families after a hospital call or health crisis. What to do in the first week.
8 min read
Read guide →ACAT Assessment Preparation
What to expect at your aged care assessment, documents to gather, and questions to ask the assessor.
10 min read
Read guide →After Your Assessment
The 56-day home care service agreement window (residential approvals don't expire), extension options, appeals, and practical next steps once approval arrives.
4 min read
Read guide →The 9-Step Government Process
A plain-English guide to navigating My Aged Care. From your first phone call to move-in day, with document checklists and realistic timeframes.
10 min read
Read guide →Aged Care Glossary
Plain-English definitions of every acronym and term. ACAT, RAD, DAP, MTCF, SA457, CHSP, AN-ACC and more. A reference guide for Australian families.
5 min read
Read guide →What Is Aged Care?
A plain-language introduction to the Australian aged care system for families just starting their research.
5 min read
Read guide →2025 Aged Care Act Changes Explained
What the new Aged Care Act means for fees, rights, Support at Home, and families already in care. Explained clearly.
8 min read
Read guide →Aged Care Fees and Charges
National aged care fees and charges: daily fee, means test, and RAD. The same rules in every state.
9 min read
Read guide →Beyond the Star Rating
What star ratings measure, their limitations, and what supplementary data to look at when choosing an aged care home.
8 min read
Read guide →How Quality Measures Star Ratings Work
The detailed methodology behind the QM sub-rating: risk-adjustment, the 7 indicator domains, composite scoring, and worked examples.
9 min read
Read guide →RAD Explained Simply
What is a Refundable Accommodation Deposit, how much does it cost, and should you pay it upfront?
7 min read
Read guide →Aged Care Means Test Explained
How the aged care means test works: income, assets, and the variable care fee.
8 min read
Read guide →Aged Care & the Family Home
When the family home is exempt, the 2-year rule, and what changes if you sell or rent.
8 min read
Read guide →How Families Fund Aged Care
Asset-rich and cash-poor: how people have paid for a room with daily payments, a mix, the family home, a specialist loan, or equity release.
10 min read
Read guide →Using the family home to help pay for aged care
House yes, cash tight. Ways families have funded a place without treating a full RAD as compulsory.
14 min read
Read guide →Aged Care for Couples
What happens when one partner enters aged care. Pension rates, asset assessment, and planning strategies.
7 min read
Read guide →Home Care Packages Explained
Levels 1–4, what services are covered, wait times, and how to apply.
6 min read
Read guide →Understanding Care Minutes
What the 215-minute staffing target means, how to read facility data, and how to use care minutes to compare aged care homes.
7 min read
Read guide →What Does My Loved One Eat?
How much aged care homes spend on food, what to look for on a tour, and how to compare food quality across providers.
6 min read
Read guide →For-Profit vs Not-for-Profit Providers
How ownership type affects care quality, food spend, and staffing. Why individual facility data matters more than averages.
7 min read
Read guide →Does the Neighbourhood Matter?
How location affects daily life in aged care. Hospital access, family visits, transport, green spaces, and community amenities.
6 min read
Read guide →Home Care vs Residential Care
A practical guide to choosing between home care and residential aged care. Compare costs, services, and suitability.
8 min read
Read guide →The First 8 Weeks: Settling In
A week-by-week guide to settling into residential aged care. What to expect, what to monitor, and when to escalate.
9 min read
Read guide →Victoria RAD ranges
Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat and regional RAD ranges. National daily fees are the same everywhere.
7 min read
Read guide →NSW RAD ranges
Sydney, Newcastle, Illawarra and regional NSW RAD ranges. National daily fees are the same everywhere.
7 min read
Read guide →Aged Care Costs in Queensland
Brisbane, Gold Coast and regional QLD RAD ranges. National daily fees are the same everywhere.
7 min read
Read guide →Aged Care Costs in South Australia
Adelaide and regional SA RAD ranges. National daily fees are the same everywhere.
6 min read
Read guide →WA RAD ranges
Perth and regional WA RAD ranges. National daily fees are the same everywhere.
7 min read
Read guide →Can You Rent Out the Family Home in Aged Care?
How renting the family home affects the 2-year exemption, fees, and when leaving it vacant is better.
7 min read
Read guide →Does the Age Pension Cover Aged Care Fees?
What the Age Pension covers and what you still need to pay from savings or family support.
6 min read
Read guide →What Happens to the RAD When Someone Dies?
How the RAD is refunded after death. Timelines, deductions, estate implications, and government guarantees.
6 min read
Read guide →How Does Super Affect Aged Care Fees?
How superannuation is treated for aged care fees: accumulation vs pension phase, and deemed income.
7 min read
Read guide →Can You Negotiate the RAD Price?
Whether RAD prices are negotiable, how published prices work, and strategies for finding better accommodation value.
6 min read
Read guide →How Long Does an ACAT Assessment Take?
ACAT assessment timelines, what to expect, how to prepare, and how to speed things up when care is urgent.
6 min read
Read guide →What If You Can't Afford Aged Care?
Government support, low-means provisions, financial hardship options, and practical strategies for families struggling with fees.
7 min read
Read guide →What Is Respite Care and How Much Does It Cost?
Types of respite care, government-subsidised days, costs, and how to use respite as a bridge or trial.
6 min read
Read guide →How Long Is the Aged Care Waiting List?
Current wait times for residential care and Home Care Packages, what affects timing, and how to manage the wait.
6 min read
Read guide →Aged Care Checklist
A step-by-step checklist for families navigating the aged care system. From assessment to moving in.
5 min read
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