Moving a parent into an aged care home: the steps, in order

Moving a parent into care often happens quickly, sometimes straight after a hospital stay. Knowing the order of the steps helps. Several of them can run at the same time.

Step 1: Apply for an assessment through My Aged Care

To get a government-funded place in an aged care home, your parent first needs an assessment and approval. There are three ways to apply:

• Online at My Aged Care. The form takes about 15 to 20 minutes to fill in. Have your parent's Medicare card ready. You can apply on their behalf.
• By phone, on 1800 200 422.
• In person, by booking an appointment with an Aged Care Specialist Officer at a Services Australia centre, on 1800 227 475.

My Aged Care asks people who need immediate care, or are already registered, to call rather than use the online form. You can track the application in the My Aged Care online account or by phone.

Step 2: The assessment

A trained assessor asks about your parent's situation and needs. Most assessments take place at home.

If your parent is approved, they get a Notice of Decision letter and a support plan. Keep both: aged care homes will ask about them.

Step 3: Start the means assessment early

The means assessment is separate from the care assessment. It's done by Services Australia (or DVA) and decides what your parent will pay.

• Use form SA457 if your parent doesn't receive an income support payment such as the Age Pension.
• Use form SA485 if they already receive one and own their home.

Both can also be done online through your parent's Centrelink account in myGov. A family member can help if they're registered as your parent's nominee. A pre-entry fee advice letter is valid for 120 days. See our guide to the means test for how the numbers work.

Step 4: Estimate the costs

The official My Aged Care fee estimator gives an estimate based on your parent's income, assets and room price. The Aged Care Costs calculator gives an estimate of the fees, with the home counted as it is today, and compares the ways of paying for the room. Both are estimates. Services Australia's assessment sets the actual fees.

Step 5: Find and shortlist homes

The Find a provider tool on My Aged Care lets you:

• search by location and needs;
• add up to 16 homes to a shortlist;
• compare up to 3 homes side by side;
• check each home's Star Ratings, its room prices and whether rooms are available.

Visiting homes gives a sense of daily life there: the rooms, the staff, the activities and the other residents. Take the Notice of Decision, the support plan and any fee letter to the visits.

Step 6: Apply to homes

My Aged Care suggests applying to every home you like, not just your first choice, as this gives more options. Some homes keep a waitlist. Depending on timing, it can help to apply early.

Step 7: Accept an offer

When a room becomes available, the home contacts your parent or their nominated contact. Your parent doesn't have to accept an offer. If they've applied to several homes, they can wait to hear from the others first.

Step 8: Agree the room price and sign the agreements

Before moving in, your parent and the home put the essentials in writing:

• Room price: everyone agrees a room price in writing, even if the government will help with accommodation costs. It can't be higher than the price published on My Aged Care but can be negotiated lower.
• Accommodation agreement: sets out the room, the agreed price and how it can be paid. For people entering from 1 November 2025, it must be signed before entry.
• Service agreement: sets out the care and services, the fees and contributions, rights and responsibilities, and when a resident can be asked to leave.

The two agreements may be combined into one document. A higher everyday living fee for optional extra services can't be agreed until after your parent has moved in, and can't be a condition of getting a room.

The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) gives free help with these steps, on 1800 700 600. My Aged Care also notes that family, a financial adviser or a legal professional can help explain the terms.

Step 9: Moving in, and paying for the room

For people entering from 1 November 2025, there's no deadline to choose how to pay. Daily payments apply until any lump sum is paid in full, and a lump sum can be paid once the means assessment is finalised. See our guide to RAD, DAP and combination payments.

After the move, changes to your parent's income, assets or circumstances must be reported to Services Australia within 28 days.

How long does it all take?

Timeframes vary a lot, depending on assessment wait times in your area, how quickly forms are returned, and whether rooms are available. Our guide to waiting times and getting assessed gives the latest published waiting times.

If care is needed urgently

If a carer can't continue and care is needed now, Carer Gateway (1800 422 737) can help arrange emergency residential respite. Not every home offers respite places.

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