Aged care placement, paid for by families, not by homes
We find homes with real vacancies that suit the person, come on the tours, explain the fees and handle the paperwork, through to move-in day. In person across Greater Melbourne, and by phone and video anywhere in Australia.
What does an aged care placement service do?
It does the legwork of moving into aged care: making sure the government assessment is done, ringing homes to find real vacancies that suit the person's care needs, area and budget, arranging and attending tours, explaining fees and the resident agreement, and helping with the move. Ours costs a fixed $1,950 in Melbourne and $1,450 elsewhere, paid by the family; homes pay us nothing.
Three ways to get placement help, compared
There are three kinds of help, and it is worth knowing how each is paid before you choose.
| Best Aged Care | Commission-paid placement services | My Aged Care (government) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who pays them | The family, a fixed fee | The aged care home, usually a fee per resident placed | Nobody, it is free |
| Rings homes to find a vacancy | Yes | Yes | No, you search the listings yourself |
| Comes on tours | Yes in Melbourne, video elsewhere | Varies | No |
| Explains fees and the agreement | Yes, in general terms | Varies | Fee estimator and fact sheets |
| Can suggest any home | Yes, we have no commercial ties to any home | Depends on their arrangements with homes | Lists every home, suggests none |
| Helps after move-in | A check-in in the first 30 days | Varies | No (advocacy is through OPAN) |
Commission-paid services vary. Ask any service how it is paid and by whom; a good one will tell you straight away.
When families usually call us
- A hospital discharge is looming. The hospital wants a date and you need a safe place quickly, without being rushed into the wrong home. Hospital discharge help ($2,450 in Melbourne, starting within one business day).
- You live far away. Mum is in Melbourne and you are in Brisbane, or overseas. We become your eyes and ears.
- The care needs are complex. Dementia with wandering, high nursing needs, a couple who want to stay together, specific cultural or language needs.
- There is simply too much else going on. Work, children, your own health. The calls, tours and paperwork are a part-time job for a few weeks.
- It is not working where they are. You want to move to a different home and do it properly this time.
Placement help by location
We know Melbourne best and help in person there. Elsewhere we work by phone and video, with the same shortlist, ratings and fee guidance.
Questions families ask
What is an aged care placement service?
A placement service helps a family find a residential aged care home and move in. It usually covers explaining the assessment, finding homes with vacancies, arranging tours, explaining fees and helping with the paperwork. Some are paid by families and some by the aged care homes.
Are aged care placement consultants regulated?
Placement services are not licensed in the way aged care homes are. That makes it worth asking any service how it is paid, what it will and will not do, and whether it gives financial advice (which needs a licence). We publish all three on this site.
Is it worth paying for placement help?
For some families, no: if you have time, live near the homes and the person has straightforward needs, My Aged Care and a few phone calls may be enough, and we will tell you that. Families tend to use us when a hospital discharge is looming, they live far away, the care needs are complex, or they simply cannot take on the calls, tours and paperwork on top of everything else.
How do I find aged care homes with vacancies?
Vacancies change daily and are not reliably published anywhere. The only dependable way is to ring the homes. That is the main thing we do for families: we ring the homes that fit and confirm who has a suitable room, and when.
Can you place someone in a home outside Melbourne?
Yes. Our remote placement ($1,450) works the same way by phone and video anywhere in Australia, and we arrange video tours where homes offer them.
Tell us what's happening
Tell us a little about what's going on and we'll 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.