Guides
Browse by topic
Most viewed
this monthGUIDES & RESOURCES
Make sense of aged care.
Plain-English guides for families navigating aged care fees, facilities, and decisions.
36 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 →How Aged Care Fees Work
The basic daily fee, means-tested care fee, and accommodation costs explained clearly with worked examples.
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 →Means-Tested Care Fee Explained
A full walkthrough of how the government calculates your variable care fee based on income and assets.
8 min read
Read guide →Aged Care & the Family Home
How selling, renting, or keeping the family home affects aged care fees and the assets test.
8 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 — and 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 →Aged Care Costs in Victoria
RAD price ranges for metropolitan Melbourne and regional VIC, plus a full breakdown of fees for 2026.
7 min read
Read guide →Aged Care Costs in New South Wales
RAD price ranges for metropolitan Sydney and regional NSW, including how Sydney property values affect the means test.
7 min read
Read guide →Aged Care Costs in Queensland
RAD price ranges for Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and regional QLD, plus a full fee breakdown for 2026.
7 min read
Read guide →Aged Care Costs in South Australia
RAD price ranges for metropolitan Adelaide and regional SA, plus a full fee breakdown for 2026.
6 min read
Read guide →Aged Care Costs in Western Australia
RAD price ranges for metropolitan Perth and regional WA, including guidance for remote communities.
7 min read
Read guide →Can You Rent Out the Family Home in Aged Care?
How renting out the family home affects the aged care means test, fees, and when keeping it vacant is the better option.
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 in the aged care means test — accumulation vs pension phase, deemed income, and strategies.
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
Coming soon