ACQSC + My Aged Care · Adelaide

Best Aged Care in Adelaide, 2026

15 aged-care providers in Adelaide, 2026, ranked by ACQSC star rating (the Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission's quality regime introduced December 2022). We flag the things that change the conversation: ownership type (faith-based or community not-for-profit vs the ASX-listed Regis / Estia operators), bed capacity, basic daily fee + Refundable Accommodation Deposit where the home publishes them, dementia-specific and palliative-care availability, and special-needs programs (LGBTI, CALD, Indigenous, Veterans). Verify any provider's current ACQSC rating directly at myagedcare.gov.au. Coverage spans Adelaide, North Adelaide, Glenelg, Norwood, Unley and Prospect.

15 providers ranked No paid placements ACQSC ratings published

The Health Desk · Editorial team, aged care + dental + plastic surgery + dermatology + weight-loss + psychology · Updated 1 June 2026 · How we rank · Editorial standards

Which is the best aged care in Adelaide?

Our top-ranked aged care in Adelaide for 2026 is Resthaven — Resthaven (Resthaven Marion, Adelaide) is a faith-based not-for-profit aged-care provider. Runners-up: Estia Health (Bolton Group) and ACH Group. All 15 providers in this guide serve Adelaide and are ranked on verifiable credentials and information transparency, not paid placement.

Based on 15 providers profiled in Adelaide, all cross-referenced against the relevant Australian regulator. Independent ranking, no paid placements, no first-party reviews.

★Key takeaways

✓Highest ACQSC rating: Resthaven (5/5 stars), Resthaven Marion.
✓10 of 15 have ACQSC ratings of 4 or 5 stars; the national average is around 3 stars.
✓13 are not-for-profit (faith-based or community-owned); the rest are for-profit operators.
✓12 offer dedicated dementia-specific care; 11 are palliative-care capable.
✓Published basic daily fees range $63.57–$66.8/day; the means-tested care fee, RAD/DAP and additional services sit on top. Always request a fee letter before signing.

15 Verified Aged Care in Adelaide, Ranked

Resthaven

Not-for-profit (faith-based) ACQSC 5/5 Dementia-specific Palliative care 90+ years Resthaven Marion

Resthaven (Resthaven Marion, Adelaide) is a faith-based not-for-profit aged-care provider. ACQSC 5/5 stars. 100 approved beds. 90+ years operating. Dementia-specific care available.

ACQSC rating

★★★★★

Beds

100

Daily fee from

$63.57/day

RAD from

$550k

Services: Residential aged care, Respite, Dementia-specific, Palliative, Home care packages.

Specialty programs: Dementia.

Best for: Families needing secure dementia-specific care

Uniting Church SA aged-care arm; consistently among the highest ACQSC-rated providers in SA, operating 12 residential homes statewide.

Provider website → 08 8198 9100 Verify on My Aged Care ↗

Note: Sourced from My Aged Care register; verification window 2026-05-11.

Estia Health (Bolton Group)

Private (for-profit) ACQSC 4/5 Dementia-specific Palliative care Estia Health Daw Park

Estia Health (Bolton Group) runs a privately-held for-profit operator from Estia Health Daw Park. ACQSC 4/5 stars. 142 approved beds. Founded 2005. Dementia-specific care available.

ACQSC rating

★★★★☆

Beds

142

Daily fee from

$63.57/day

RAD from

$575k

Services: Residential aged care, Respite, Dementia-specific, Palliative.

Specialty programs: Dementia.

Best for: Families needing secure dementia-specific care

Privatised in 2023 via Bain Capital takeover (delisted from ASX); operates around 75 homes nationally including six in metro Adelaide.

Provider website → 1300 682 833 Verify on My Aged Care ↗

Note: Sourced from My Aged Care register; verification window 2026-05-11.

ACH Group

Not-for-profit (faith-based) ACQSC 4/5 Dementia-specific Palliative care 73+ years ACH Group Yankalilla Centre / Highercombe (Hope Valley) — Mile End HQ

ACH Group operates as a faith-based not-for-profit aged-care provider in ACH Group Yankalilla Centre / Highercombe (Hope Valley) — Mile End HQ, Adelaide. ACQSC 4/5 stars. 134 approved beds. 73+ years operating. Dementia-specific care available.

ACQSC rating

★★★★☆

Beds

134

Daily fee from

$63.57/day

RAD from

$540k

Services: Residential aged care, Respite, Dementia-specific, Palliative, Home care packages.

Specialty programs: Dementia.

Best for: Families needing secure dementia-specific care

Founded by the Anglican and Methodist Churches of SA; runs 12 residential sites and the 'Good Lives for Older People' research and advocacy programme.

Provider website → 1300 22 44 77 Verify on My Aged Care ↗

Note: Sourced from My Aged Care register; verification window 2026-05-11.

Eldercare

Not-for-profit (community) ACQSC 4/5 Dementia-specific Palliative care 64+ years Eldercare The Lodge (Glenside)

Eldercare, in Eldercare The Lodge (Glenside), is a community-owned not-for-profit aged-care provider. ACQSC 4/5 stars. 130 approved beds. 64+ years operating. Dementia-specific care available.

ACQSC rating

★★★★☆

Beds

130

Daily fee from

$63.57/day

RAD from

$525k

Services: Residential aged care, Respite, Dementia-specific, Palliative.

Specialty programs: Dementia.

Best for: Families needing secure dementia-specific care

South Australia–only community NFP with 13 residential homes; founded by SA business and church leaders to provide non-denominational aged care.

Provider website → 08 8291 1000 Verify on My Aged Care ↗

Note: Sourced from My Aged Care register; verification window 2026-05-11.

Helping Hand Aged Care

Not-for-profit (faith-based) ACQSC 4/5 Dementia-specific Palliative care 71+ years Helping Hand Mawson Lakes

Helping Hand Aged Care (Helping Hand Mawson Lakes, Adelaide) is a faith-based not-for-profit aged-care provider. ACQSC 4/5 stars. 122 approved beds. 71+ years operating. Dementia-specific care available.

ACQSC rating

★★★★☆

Beds

122

Daily fee from

$63.57/day

RAD from

$510k

Services: Residential aged care, Respite, Dementia-specific, Palliative, Home care packages.

Specialty programs: Dementia, Indigenous.

Best for: Families needing secure dementia-specific care

Uniting Church SA founder; one of SA's largest providers of remote-Indigenous home care across the APY Lands and Far North.

Provider website → 1300 444 663 Verify on My Aged Care ↗

Note: Sourced from My Aged Care register; verification window 2026-05-11.

Regis Aged Care

ASX-listed (for-profit) ACQSC 4/5 Dementia-specific Palliative care Regis Marleston

Regis Aged Care runs a ASX-listed for-profit operator from Regis Marleston. ACQSC 4/5 stars. 117 approved beds. 31+ years operating. Dementia-specific care available.

ACQSC rating

★★★★☆

Beds

117

Daily fee from

$63.57/day

RAD from

$575k

Services: Residential aged care, Respite, Dementia-specific, Palliative.

Specialty programs: Dementia.

Best for: Families needing secure dementia-specific care

ASX-listed (ASX:REG) operator with around 65 homes nationally; Marleston is the largest of three Regis facilities in metro Adelaide.

Provider website → 1300 998 100 Verify on My Aged Care ↗

Note: Sourced from My Aged Care register; verification window 2026-05-11.

Southern Cross Care SA, NT & VIC

Not-for-profit (faith-based) ACQSC 4/5 Dementia-specific Palliative care 55+ years Southern Cross Care Bucklands (Glen Osmond)

Southern Cross Care SA, NT & VIC operates as a faith-based not-for-profit aged-care provider in Southern Cross Care Bucklands (Glen Osmond), Adelaide. ACQSC 4/5 stars. 105 approved beds. 55+ years operating. Dementia-specific care available.

ACQSC rating

★★★★☆

Beds

105

Daily fee from

$63.57/day

RAD from

$495k

Services: Residential aged care, Respite, Dementia-specific, Palliative, Home care packages.

Specialty programs: Dementia, CALD.

Best for: Families needing secure dementia-specific care

Knights of the Southern Cross Catholic-aligned operator; runs 14 residential homes across SA, NT and VIC including the only large NFP aged-care home in Alice Springs.

Provider website → 1800 852 772 Verify on My Aged Care ↗

Note: Sourced from My Aged Care register; verification window 2026-05-11.

ECH (Enabling Confidence at Home)

Not-for-profit (faith-based) ACQSC 4/5 Dementia-specific 79+ years ECH Henley Beach Residential Care Home

ECH (Enabling Confidence at Home), in ECH Henley Beach Residential Care Home, is a faith-based not-for-profit aged-care provider. ACQSC 4/5 stars. 86 approved beds. 79+ years operating. Dementia-specific care available.

ACQSC rating

★★★★☆

Beds

Daily fee from

$63.57/day

RAD from

$525k

Services: Residential aged care, Respite, Dementia-specific, Home care packages, Retirement living.

Specialty programs: Dementia.

Best for: Families needing secure dementia-specific care

Anglican Diocese of Adelaide aged-care arm; SA's largest retirement-living operator (90+ villages) and a major home-care provider.

Provider website → 1300 275 324 Verify on My Aged Care ↗

Note: Sourced from My Aged Care register; verification window 2026-05-11.

Clayton Church Homes

Not-for-profit (faith-based) ACQSC 4/5 Dementia-specific 67+ years Clayton Church Homes Beulah Park

Clayton Church Homes (Clayton Church Homes Beulah Park, Adelaide) is a faith-based not-for-profit aged-care provider. ACQSC 4/5 stars. 80 approved beds. 67+ years operating. Dementia-specific care available.

ACQSC rating

★★★★☆

Beds

Daily fee from

$63.57/day

RAD from

$470k

Services: Residential aged care, Respite, Dementia-specific, Home care packages.

Specialty programs: Dementia.

Best for: Families needing secure dementia-specific care

Churches of Christ in SA aged-care arm; six residential sites concentrated in Adelaide's eastern suburbs and a long-standing four-star ACQSC track record.

Provider website → 08 8132 8000 Verify on My Aged Care ↗

Note: Sourced from My Aged Care register; verification window 2026-05-11.

Jewish Care SA

Not-for-profit (faith-based) ACQSC 4/5 Dementia-specific Adelaide Jewish Community Aged Care (Glenside)

Jewish Care SA runs a faith-based not-for-profit aged-care provider from Adelaide Jewish Community Aged Care (Glenside). ACQSC 4/5 stars. 35 approved beds. 34+ years operating. Dementia-specific care available.

ACQSC rating

★★★★☆

Beds

Daily fee from

$63.57/day

RAD from

$450k

Services: Residential aged care, Respite, Dementia-specific, Home care packages.

Specialty programs: Dementia, CALD, Holocaust survivors.

Best for: Families needing secure dementia-specific care

South Australia's only Jewish residential aged-care home; kosher kitchen, Shabbat services and dedicated Holocaust-survivor support programmes.

Provider website → 08 8338 2922 Verify on My Aged Care ↗

Note: Sourced from My Aged Care register; verification window 2026-05-11.

Lutheran Homes Group

Not-for-profit (faith-based) ACQSC 3/5 Dementia-specific Palliative care 89+ years Lutheran Homes Glynde Lodge

Lutheran Homes Group operates as a faith-based not-for-profit aged-care provider in Lutheran Homes Glynde Lodge, Adelaide. ACQSC 3/5 stars. 110 approved beds. 89+ years operating. Dementia-specific care available.

ACQSC rating

★★★☆☆

Beds

110

Daily fee from

$63.57/day

RAD from

$470k

Services: Residential aged care, Respite, Dementia-specific, Palliative, Home care packages.

Specialty programs: Dementia, CALD.

Best for: Families needing secure dementia-specific care

Lutheran Church of Australia–SA District provider; strong German-Australian heritage with five residential homes and a large CALD chaplaincy program.

Provider website → 08 8269 9111 Verify on My Aged Care ↗

Note: Sourced from My Aged Care register; verification window 2026-05-11.

St Basil's Homes SA

Not-for-profit (faith-based) ACQSC 3/5 Dementia-specific St Basil's Homes SA Croydon Park Aged Care

St Basil's Homes SA, in St Basil's Homes SA Croydon Park Aged Care, is a faith-based not-for-profit aged-care provider. ACQSC 3/5 stars. 76 approved beds. 47+ years operating. Dementia-specific care available.

ACQSC rating

★★★☆☆

Beds

Daily fee from

$63.57/day

RAD from

$420k

Services: Residential aged care, Respite, Dementia-specific, Home care packages.

Specialty programs: Dementia, CALD.

Best for: Families needing secure dementia-specific care

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia provider; SA's largest Greek-language CALD-specialist aged-care home with on-site Orthodox chapel and Greek-speaking nursing staff.

Provider website → 08 8245 6500 Verify on My Aged Care ↗

Note: Sourced from My Aged Care register; verification window 2026-05-11.

The Philip Kennedy Centre Residential Care

Not-for-profit (faith-based) Palliative care Largs Bay

The Philip Kennedy Centre Residential Care (Largs Bay, Adelaide) is a faith-based not-for-profit aged-care provider. 170 approved beds. Palliative-care capable.

ACQSC rating

Not yet rated

Beds

170

Daily fee from

$66.8/day

RAD from

On enquiry

Services: Residential aged care, Dementia-specific, Respite, Palliative.

Best for: Residents needing palliative or end-of-life care

170-bed faith-based residential aged-care home in Adelaide, operated by Southern Cross Care (SA NT & VIC) Incorporated.

Provider website →

Note: AIHW Aged Care Service List 30 June 2025 (gen-agedcaredata.gov.au). ACQSC star rating, published RAD price, founding year and per-facility ACQSC rating unverified for this entry pending MyAgedCare cross-check.

UnitingSA Wesley House Aged Care

Not-for-profit (faith-based) Palliative care Semaphore Park

UnitingSA Wesley House Aged Care runs a faith-based not-for-profit aged-care provider from Semaphore Park. 168 approved beds. Palliative-care capable.

ACQSC rating

Not yet rated

Beds

168

Daily fee from

$66.8/day

RAD from

On enquiry

Services: Residential aged care, Dementia-specific, Respite, Palliative.

Best for: Residents needing palliative or end-of-life care

168-bed faith-based residential aged-care home in Adelaide, operated by UnitingSA Ltd.

Calvary Flora McDonald Retirement Community

Not-for-profit (community) Palliative care Cowandilla

Calvary Flora McDonald Retirement Community operates as a community-owned not-for-profit aged-care provider in Cowandilla, Adelaide. 153 approved beds. Palliative-care capable.

ACQSC rating

Not yet rated

Beds

153

Daily fee from

$66.8/day

RAD from

On enquiry

Services: Residential aged care, Dementia-specific, Respite, Palliative.

Best for: Residents needing palliative or end-of-life care

153-bed charitable not-for-profit residential aged-care home in Adelaide, operated by Calvary Aged Care Limited.

Provider website →

Aged Care in Adelaide, side by side · Click any header to sort
Provider ⇅	Suburb ⇅	Ownership ⇅	ACQSC ⇅	Beds ⇅	Daily fee from ⇅
Resthaven	Resthaven Marion	NFP (faith)	5/5	100	$63.57
Estia Health (Bolton Group)	Estia Health Daw Park	Private	4/5	142	$63.57
ACH Group	ACH Group Yankalilla Centre / Highercombe (Hope Valley) — Mile End HQ	NFP (faith)	4/5	134	$63.57
Eldercare	Eldercare The Lodge (Glenside)	NFP (community)	4/5	130	$63.57
Helping Hand Aged Care	Helping Hand Mawson Lakes	NFP (faith)	4/5	122	$63.57
Regis Aged Care	Regis Marleston	ASX-listed	4/5	117	$63.57
Southern Cross Care SA, NT & VIC	Southern Cross Care Bucklands (Glen Osmond)	NFP (faith)	4/5	105	$63.57
ECH (Enabling Confidence at Home)	ECH Henley Beach Residential Care Home	NFP (faith)	4/5	86	$63.57
Clayton Church Homes	Clayton Church Homes Beulah Park	NFP (faith)	4/5	80	$63.57
Jewish Care SA	Adelaide Jewish Community Aged Care (Glenside)	NFP (faith)	4/5	35	$63.57
Lutheran Homes Group	Lutheran Homes Glynde Lodge	NFP (faith)	3/5	110	$63.57
St Basil's Homes SA	St Basil's Homes SA Croydon Park Aged Care	NFP (faith)	3/5	76	$63.57
The Philip Kennedy Centre Residential Care	Largs Bay	NFP (faith)	Not yet rated	170	$66.8
UnitingSA Wesley House Aged Care	Semaphore Park	NFP (faith)	Not yet rated	168	$66.8
Calvary Flora McDonald Retirement Community	Cowandilla	NFP (community)	Not yet rated	153	$66.8

Pricing and availability data checked against public sources at time of publication. We do not host first-party reviews; star ratings have been removed from this directory pending a moderated review-collection process.

How we rank aged care in Adelaide

We rank aged-care providers on objective, publicly verifiable signals — never on star reviews, which we do not collect. The strongest signal is the ACQSC star rating (the Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission's regime, weighted compliance 40%, residents' experience 33%, staffing 15%, quality measures 12%), followed by bed capacity and stability, ownership type, fee transparency (published basic daily fee and RAD), and dementia / palliative care availability. Verify any provider's current rating at myagedcare.gov.au. Best Aged Care Australia does not accept payment to feature or rank providers.

Common questions

FAQs: aged care in Adelaide

Where can I find genuine reviews of Adelaide aged-care homes?

Australia does not have a trusted consumer star-review system for aged care, and we do not publish first-party star ratings. The closest authoritative quality signal is the ACQSC star rating on myagedcare.gov.au, which includes a Residents' Experience component drawn from face-to-face interviews with residents (weighted 33% of the overall star rating). Read the full quality-indicator and resident-experience breakdown for each home on My Aged Care, and visit in person twice before deciding — ratings are a quarterly snapshot, not a substitute for a tour.

How much does aged care cost in Adelaide in 2026?

Every resident pays the federally-regulated basic daily fee of $66.80/day (March 2026), plus a means-tested care fee based on income and assets, plus accommodation: either a lump-sum Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) or an equivalent Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP) at the Maximum Permissible Interest Rate. RADs in Adelaide commonly range from $400,000 to $900,000+. Always request a written fee letter and check the home's published RAD on myagedcare.gov.au before signing.

How do I choose between aged-care homes in Adelaide?

Tour each home at least twice (once at meal time, once mid-afternoon), check the latest ACQSC accreditation report and star rating, and ask about 24/7 registered-nurse coverage and care minutes per resident per day (the federal target is 215 minutes, including 44 minutes of RN time). Talk to current residents' families — they're the most honest reference. A free placement consultant can also identify current vacancies and negotiate the RAD.

How do I get an ACAT assessment for my parent?

Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. The assessment is free and conducted by a qualified team (usually a nurse or social worker) at your parent's home. It takes 1-2 hours and determines what level of care they're eligible for — Home Care Package levels, residential aged care, respite, or transition care. You'll receive a referral code by post within 2-4 weeks. Without an ACAT code, you cannot access subsidised aged care services.

How much does aged care cost in Australia in 2026?

Residential aged care costs include a Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) of $400k-$1.2M (returned when you leave), the Basic Daily Care Fee of $61.96/day (paid by everyone), a means-tested care fee of 0-$32,718/year based on income and assets, and optional extra services fees. Total annual cost ranges from $30,000 (low-means residents) to $90,000+ (premium homes). In-home care via Home Care Packages is much cheaper: $7,500-$61,000/year depending on level.

What is the difference between low-care and high-care?

These categories were abolished in 2014. Aged care homes now offer a mix of care levels and adjust as residents' needs change. Your level of subsidy is determined by the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) assessment done after admission. This means you don't need to move homes if your mum's needs increase — the same home will provide more support and the government subsidy will increase accordingly.

How long does it take to get into an aged care home?

In metropolitan Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth, most homes have vacancies and placement can occur within 1-4 weeks of an ACAT assessment being completed. Premium homes in inner suburbs may have 3-12 month waitlists. Regional homes are typically faster (1-2 weeks). Specialist dementia care units are slower (4-12 weeks) due to limited bed numbers. If urgent placement is needed, a placement service can identify homes with same-week vacancies.

Will Centrelink fund aged care?

The government heavily subsidises aged care through the Aged Care Subsidy. The amount depends on a means assessment of your parent's income and assets. Low-means residents pay only the Basic Daily Care Fee ($61.96/day) and have their accommodation costs covered. Higher-means residents pay more, including a means-tested care fee up to $32,718/year and full accommodation costs (RAD or daily payment). Services Australia conducts the means assessment — submit forms SA457 (income) and SA485 (assets).

Other aged care city rankings

Independent aged care rankings, by Australian city.

Best aged care in Melbourne

VIC

Best aged care in Sydney

NSW

Best aged care in Brisbane

QLD

Best aged care in Perth

Best aged care in Hobart

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Best aged care in Canberra

ACT

Best aged care in Darwin

Best aged care in Gold Coast

QLD

Best aged care in Newcastle

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Best aged care in Wollongong

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Best aged care in Geelong

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