Moving in when time is short
Sometimes there's no time to prepare. A fall, a hospital stay or a carer who can't keep going, and suddenly a decision is needed within days. If that's where your family is, take a breath. These guides set out the steps in order and explain what you're signing. They cover your rights if the hospital wants a bed back, and what's paid before the means assessment is finished. Some choices can be made later, once things settle. Knowing which ones can wait makes the next few days a little easier.
Moving a parent into an aged care home: the steps, in order
From the first call to My Aged Care to signing the agreements: the steps involved, what each one needs, and where families often get stuck.
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Leaving hospital: do you have to take the first place offered?
When a parent can't go home from hospital, families can feel pushed to take the first bed offered. Hospital rules differ by state, so here's what to ask and who can help.
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The agreements: what you sign, when, and the 28-day cooling-off period
Moving into an aged care home usually means up to three agreements: care and services, the room, and optional extras. What each covers and how cooling-off works.
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Moving in before the means assessment is back: what you pay in the meantime
Your parent can move in before Services Australia finishes the means assessment. What the home can charge meanwhile, how fees are corrected later, and how to keep the wait short.
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Waiting times and getting assessed: what to expect
How an aged care assessment works, how long families wait for assessments, places and services, and what to do if the result looks wrong or needs change.
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