Residential Aged Care Placement, Without the Overwhelm
Moving into residential aged care is one of the hardest steps an older person and their family take, emotionally, financially and practically. When home is no longer safe, a good aged care home can be a relief. But finding the right one, understanding the fees and getting the timing right can feel like a lot, fast.
We can walk beside you through each step, or manage the whole placement for you: understanding fees and funding, comparing homes, securing a place that fits, and supporting the move. Our goal is for you to feel supported, not rushed, so the move is as smooth as it can be.
How aged care placement works
An assessment through My Aged Care approves the person for residential care. Assessments can be in person, by phone or by telehealth, including in hospital.
Work out the likely fees: the basic daily fee, the accommodation payment (RAD, DAP or a combination), and any means-tested hotelling and non-clinical care contributions. Completing the means assessment through Services Australia early matters, because without it the person can be asked to pay the maximum fees.
Location, care quality, culture, availability and cost all matter.
We help you know what to look for and what to ask, or we do the legwork for you.
Handle the agreements, the paperwork and settling in, with support.
Why independence matters most here
This is where independence really counts. Many “free” placement services are paid by the aged care homes they recommend, which can quietly steer people toward whoever pays the broker. We’re different: older people and families pay us directly, and we take no commissions from any home. The shortlist we build with you is based on what’s right for the person moving in, not on who’s paying us.
If a placement service is free to you, it’s worth asking who’s paying them. Ours isn’t a provider-paid model, so the home we help you choose is the one that fits.
What to look for in an aged care home
Staffing, clinical care, the home’s star ratings on My Aged Care, and its compliance record with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
Does it feel warm and respectful? Trust what you sense on a visit.
Close enough for family and friends to visit often.
The fees, the accommodation payment, any optional higher everyday living fee, and what the agreements say.
Dementia care, palliative care, or cultural and language needs.
Common mistakes when choosing an aged care home
- Taking the first available bed under pressure, without comparing.
- Using a provider-paid broker without realising the advice may be skewed.
- Underestimating the paperwork. Agreements, the means assessment and fee forms need care.
- Not talking with your financial adviser before committing to a large RAD.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my parent into residential aged care?
They first need an assessment through My Aged Care approving them for residential care. Then you compare homes, understand the fees, and choose a place. We can help you through each step, from approval to the move, or manage the whole placement for you, calmly and independently.
How much does residential aged care cost?
It combines a basic daily fee, an accommodation payment (a refundable RAD, a daily DAP, or a combination), and means-tested hotelling and non-clinical care contributions. Some homes also offer an optional higher everyday living fee, which can’t be a condition of entry. The amounts depend on the home and the person’s means assessment. See our Understanding Aged Care Costs page. For advice on your own numbers, we encourage you to talk with your existing financial adviser, or we can introduce you to someone suitable.
Are placement services really free?
Some are, but often because the aged care homes pay them a commission, which can influence which homes they recommend. We’re not provider-paid: older people and families pay us directly, so our guidance stays independent. It’s always worth asking a placement service who pays them.
How long does it take to find an aged care place?
It varies with location, care needs and availability. Some homes have waitlists; others have openings. We can’t promise a timeframe, but we help you move efficiently and avoid a rushed, poor-fit decision.
What should I look for when choosing an aged care home?
Care quality and staffing, star ratings and compliance record, how the home feels on a visit, location for family, cost and contract terms, and any specialist needs such as dementia or palliative care. We help you compare on what matters.
Can you help during a hospital discharge?
Yes. Hospital discharges often force a fast residential care decision. We step in to help you understand the options and choose well, so you’re supported rather than pressured.
Independent, RN-led placement support
Our guidance comes from people who have worked inside the system and still do. Louise Greene is a Registered Nurse with an MBA and more than 40 years in health and aged care across clinical, executive, consulting and board roles, including chairing clinical governance committees. Kerry Mann is a former CEO in aged care and retirement living, holds an MBA, and has board experience including Ageing Australia’s NSW/ACT State Member Council.
How much we do is up to you. Some people want a single conversation to get their bearings. Others want us to manage the whole process, from the assessment through to finding and securing a place in the right home, with regular updates along the way.
We’re independent. Older people and families pay us directly, and we take no commissions from aged care homes, retirement villages or providers. When we help with placement, we’re working for you: homes pay us nothing. Where we introduce a partner, it’s on merit, with no fee in either direction. People come to us in the hardest weeks and leave with a clear plan and a person to call.
With a Registered Nurse and a former aged care CEO behind the guidance, and no provider commissions, the home you choose is the one that’s right for you.