Understanding Aged Care Fees
Better understand aged care fees and Government financial support.
When making the move to residential aged care, there’s a lot to understand, including the cost.
Your aged care fees and charges will vary according to your personal needs, your circumstances and your chosen care home.
Generally, you will be required to pay for your basic living expenses, your care and your accommodation. You may also want to take advantage of additional services your care home provides.
This page will help you to:
Check for financial support from the Government
Get an estimate of your fees
Find out which fees you will need to pay
Decide how you will pay
Need assistance?
Key aged care fees
Basic daily fee
The basic daily fee is applicable to anyone living or staying in a residential aged care home and covers day-to-day living costs such as cleaning, meals, laundry and heating.
This fee is currently set at 85% of your basic Aged Pension and the Australian Government Department of Health and your aged care provider will determine any additional costs for depending on your care package.
Means-tested care fee
This fee contributes to your day-to-day care costs.
Not everyone is required to pay this cost. The Australian Government Department of Health will assess your income and assets to work out your means-tested care fee.
Accommodation fee
This fee covers your accommodation – the room that you’ll live in at your new Calvary home. The Department of Human Services will determine whether we will ask you to pay this fee. Their assessment will also outline your payment options.