Families
IS AGED CARE DECISIONS REALLY FREE TO USE?
Yes. Our service is 100% free for families. You will never be charged to use Aged Care Decisions.
We are paid a placement fee by aged care providers when a successful placement is made. This fee is the same for all providers. Providers cannot pay more to receive extra referrals or better placement on our lists.
We do not recommend one provider over another. Our only goal is to help you find the best option based on your individual needs. If none of our providers are the right fit, we will still give you guidance and support to help you continue your search.
There is also no need to worry about providers passing this fee on to you. Under Australian law, aged care providers cannot increase their prices or charge additional fees to cover the placement fee. All fees are regulated by the Aged Care Act 1997.
HOW IS YOUR SERVICE DIFFERENT FROM GOVERNMENT RESOURCES LIKE MY AGED CARE?
My Aged Care is the Australian Government’s starting point for accessing aged care. You’ll need to go through them for an assessment and to access government funding for services like home care or residential aged care.
Our service is different – we’re a free and independent support service that helps you:
- Understand what your My Aged Care assessment means
- Compare home care providers or aged care homes that match your needs
- Find out what’s available in your area, including fees, vacancies, and service quality
- Get help fast — often within 24 to 48 hours
We work alongside the My Aged Care process, helping you move from being approved for care to finding and choosing the right aged care provider, all at no cost to you.
HOW DO YOU SELECT THE PROVIDERS YOU RECOMMEND?
Every provider we recommend must go through a formal onboarding process with our Provider Growth team. This includes a detailed review of their services to ensure they meet our standards and align with the needs of the families we support.
All providers in our network are registered with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and must agree to our voluntary code of conduct. Not all applicants are accepted. We only work with providers we trust to deliver high-quality care.
We follow a rigorous process to get to know each provider and understand the level of care, accommodation, and support they offer, so when you come to us, we can match you with options that truly suit your needs.
HOW DO I KNOW THE AGED CARE HOMES IN QUEENSLAND YOU RECOMMEND ARE TRUSTWORTHY?
For your peace of mind, we have developed a voluntary Code of Conduct to regulate our interactions with both the Aged Care industry and the families who use our services.
This Code of Conduct was created to provide transparency in interactions between all Aged Care Decisions staff, partners and associates.
HOW QUICKLY CAN I RECEIVE A CUSTOMISED OPTIONS REPORT?
You’ll receive your personalised aged care options report within 20 minutes by email. It’s tailored to your specific needs, including location, care requirements and preferences. From there, you can decide which providers to shortlist and which homes you’d like to visit.
CAN YOU HELP WITH URGENT AGED CARE PLACEMENT NEEDS?
Yes, we assist with urgent care options for you or your loved one. Simply call us on
1300 775 870, we’re open 7 days a week.
WILL I GET HELP UNDERSTANDING AGED CARE FEES AND COSTS?
Absolutely! Our friendly, knowledgeable and experienced team will be able to assist with these questions and more, breaking it all down step-by-step.
Learn more: How much does a nursing home cost in Australia?
Learn more: Schedule of Aged Care Fees & Charges
CAN YOU HELP ME FIND A RESPITE CARE FACILITY?
Yes, of course! We can connect you with aged care facilities that provide short-term residential respite care, supporting both older Australians and their carers.
Whether it’s recovery after a hospital stay or a planned break for a carer, respite care offers temporary accommodation with 24/7 support in a safe, comfortable environment.
We’ll match you with suitable facilities in your area based on your care needs, preferences, and availability.
Providers
WHAT DOES IT COST TO WORK WITH AGED CARE DECISIONS?
The Industry Standard Placement Services Fee is $2950.00 ex GST. This fee is equivalent to approximately 8 days of average bed day revenue (2019 Dept of Health ACFA Report).
There is no joining fee, no registration fee, and no ongoing fees for service providers. The only fee you pay us is when a placement takes place. No admission from us means no fee for you.
WHEN DOES A PROVIDER PAY?
You pay the Placement Services Fee if and when a resident moves into your facility and commences permanent care.
If the resident moves in for respite services, you will be required to pay an interim Respite Services Fee, but this amount is deducted from the full Placement Services Fee if that person becomes a permanent resident in your facility.
WHAT’S THE CANCELLATION POLICY?
You can cancel your agreement with us at anytime.
CAN WE PAY MORE TO RECEIVE MORE INTRODUCTIONS?
The prices nominated above are industry wide, therefore we do not recommend one facility over another for a higher fee. Our role is purely to provide information and to make introductions when suitable for your service.
WHAT INFORMATION TO WE RECEIVE IN REFERRALS?
All referrals from us include full family contact details, as well as their financial capacity (RAD paying / concessional), a complete clinical assessment, Referral Codes (where applicable), and an ACFI estimate.
WHAT IF A RESIDENT PASSES AWAY OR MOVES OUT AFTER MOVING IN?
A Short Stay Rebate of 60% of the Placement Services Fee is offered in the event that a resident referred by Aged Care Decisions either passes away or moves out within 21 days of moving in.
The Short Stay Rebate is offered to you as either a rebate or credit, and only applies to permanent placements.
WHAT IF WE’RE ALREADY TALKING TO A FAMILY?
We screen families by asking if they have already contacted any facilities or operators.
Our introductions are only intended to assist in providing you with new potential residents, therefore the fee does not apply to your organisation’s pre-existing enquiries.
HOW DO WE GET STARTED?
Simply fill out a one page Placement Services Registration Form, and we can have your organisation up and running on the same day. Start your registration here.
Health Professionals
OUR HOSPITAL ALREADY HAS SOCIAL WORKERS FOR THIS SERVICE. WHY DO WE NEED AGED CARE DECISIONS?
Discharging patients into aged care is a time-consuming and labour intensive job, requiring large amounts of repetitive administrative work.
To find suitable vacancies, book tours and manage family expectations can be a drain on valuable hospital resources.
Aged Care Decisions has relationships with over 70% of aged care providers in metro areas across Australia, we are constantly monitoring live vacancy data.
Our technology allows us to move quickly, and our trained and dedicated Placement Specialists focus on matching a patients care needs, preferences and budget.
We take the hassle out of booking tours, securing available vacancies and streamlining the discharge process, freeing up your team to focus on other priorities.
MY PATIENT ALREADY HAS AN AGED CARE PROVIDER IN MIND. IF I REFER THEM TO YOU, WHAT HAPPENS IF THEIR PREFERRED FACILITY IS NOT REGISTERED WITH YOU? CAN YOU STILL HELP THEM?
Our Client Support Guarantee states that Aged Care Decisions provides the same superior level of service and support to ALL potential residents and families seeking our services.
Whether a family already has a preferred facility or not, the level of support and service we provide remains the same even if the service provider is not registered with us.
Due to privacy laws, the only element of our service that cannot be disclosed is when a preferred facility not registered with us is seeking support with personal or clinical information and assistance with booking tours.
IS THERE ANY COST TO THE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATED WITH USING THE AGED CARE PLACEMENT PORTAL?
Our service is 100% free to both hospitals and patients.
We require no commitment, contract or exclusivity to for you to use our service. We believe the value of what we do speaks for itself.
