In person, Greater Melbourne
Aged care homes in Pakenham
Pakenham has three residential aged care homes and no other home within 5 km; the nearest is Cardinia Community Aged Care in Officer, about 6.2 km away.
Is there an aged care home in Pakenham with a vacancy?
Vacancies are not published reliably, so the way to find out is to ring Pakenham's three homes (McGregor Gardens Aged Care, Millhaven Lodge and Villa Maria Catholic Homes Shanagolden Aged Care Residence); we do that for you, then come on the tours, for a fixed $1,950 paid by the family.
The homes in Pakenham
Sorted by overall Star Rating, from McGregor Gardens Aged Care to Villa Maria Catholic Homes Shanagolden Aged Care Residence.
| Home | Suburb | Overall | Residents' experience | Compliance | Staffing | Quality measures | Care minutes (target) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McGregor Gardens Aged Care | Pakenham | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 211 (210) | |
| Millhaven Lodge | Pakenham | 3 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 3 of 5 | 227 (208) | |
| Villa Maria Catholic Homes Shanagolden Aged Care Residence | Pakenham | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 3 of 5 | 3 of 5 | 216 (209) |
In brief
- McGregor Gardens Aged Care: 4 stars overall, 91 places, run by Menarock Aged Care Services (Victoria); met its care minutes target (211 against 210).
- Millhaven Lodge: 4 stars overall, 119 places, run by Pakenham & District Hospital; met its care minutes target (227 against 208).
- Villa Maria Catholic Homes Shanagolden Aged Care Residence: 4 stars overall, 90 places, run by Villa Maria Catholic Homes; met its care minutes target (216 against 209).
Care minutes are the average per resident per day in January to March 2026, with the home's target in brackets.
Star Ratings are published by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Shown as published in August 2026; they may have changed since. See the current rating on My Aged Care.
Pakenham at a glance
- 3 homes in Pakenham itself, with 300 places, the biggest being Millhaven Lodge (119), and none within 5 km.
- Council area: Cardinia, 9 homes in all.
- All 3 rated homes here have four or five stars, led by McGregor Gardens Aged Care, in line with Cardinia overall (86%).
- Operators: Menarock Aged Care Services (Victoria), Pakenham & District Hospital and Villa Maria Catholic Homes.
Sources: Star Ratings quarterly data extract (Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, August 2026); GEN aged care service list (places, as at 30 June 2025); distances are straight-line from the middle of the Pakenham homes. How we check our facts.
Worth knowing here
Pakenham stands on its own, with no other home within 5 km and the nearest outside the suburb being Cardinia Community Aged Care in Officer, about 6.2 km away, so if the three homes here are full, decide early how far the family can travel to visit.
All three Pakenham homes with published figures delivered at least their target care minutes per resident in January to March 2026.
Millhaven Lodge has a compliance rating below five, so ask what the regulator raised and what has changed.
Nearby suburbs
| Suburb | Distance | Homes | Four or five stars | Below care minutes target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berwick | 14 km | 3 | 100% | 1 of 3 |
| Dandenong | 25 km | 4 | 25% | 4 of 4 |
| Carrum Downs | 26 km | 5 | 60% | 4 of 5 |
Help finding a room here
If Pakenham is where you want to be, we start with its three homes and the nearest homes beyond, and come with you on the tours.
The full placement costs $1,950 including GST, paid by the family, and homes pay us nothing (how payment works).
If a hospital wants a discharge date, the urgent placement ($2,450) starts within one business day (hospital discharge help).
Questions families ask
Which aged care homes are in Pakenham?
The August 2026 Star Ratings data lists three residential aged care homes in Pakenham: McGregor Gardens Aged Care, Millhaven Lodge and Villa Maria Catholic Homes Shanagolden Aged Care Residence. No other home is within 5 km, and the wider Cardinia council area has 9.
Which aged care homes near Pakenham have the highest ratings?
Taking Pakenham and the homes within 5 km together, the highest overall Star Ratings belong to McGregor Gardens Aged Care (4 stars), Millhaven Lodge (4 stars) and Villa Maria Catholic Homes Shanagolden Aged Care Residence (4 stars).
Do all the homes in Pakenham meet their care minutes targets?
Yes: in January to March 2026, McGregor Gardens Aged Care, Millhaven Lodge and Villa Maria Catholic Homes Shanagolden Aged Care Residence all delivered at least their target care minutes per resident per day.
What is the nearest aged care home outside Pakenham?
Cardinia Community Aged Care in Officer, about 6.2 km away, with 3 stars overall.
Tell us what's happening
Tell us a little about the person and why Pakenham. We will call to talk it through; the first conversation is free.
We're opening soon. We're not taking clients yet. Leave your details and we'll contact you when our Melbourne service opens. If you need help today, call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422, and if the person is in hospital, ask for the social worker or discharge planner.