Is it time for aged care? The signs and the first steps

How do you know when it's time for aged care?

Usually there is no single moment, just a build-up: falls, missed medication, weight loss, confusion, or a carer running on empty. A few signs together usually mean it is time for more help. Start with an aged care assessment through My Aged Care (1800 200 422), which costs nothing and commits you to nothing. Help at home may be enough for a while, and a respite stay is a common way to try an aged care home.

The signs it might be time

None of these on its own means an aged care home is needed. Several together usually mean it is time to get more support in place.

Falls, or near misses: Even one fall, or "I just slipped", deserves attention. Repeated falls often mean home is no longer safe as it is.
The fridge tells a story: Out-of-date food, skipped meals, weight loss, living on toast and tea.
Medication muddles: Tablets left in the pack or doubled up, or "I can't remember if I took them".
Hygiene and the house slipping: The same clothes for days, an unwashed look, a once-tidy home now cluttered or dirty.
Confusion or getting lost: Repeating questions, missed appointments, getting lost on a familiar route, the stove left on.
Pulling away: Seeing friends less, not answering the phone, low mood. Loneliness affects health too.
Trips to hospital: More ambulance calls or admissions, and each one leaves them a little weaker.
The carer is running on empty: If you, or a partner at home, are exhausted or unwell, that is a sign too. You matter in this.

Raising it with your parent

Lead with what they want: to stay safe, independent and in charge of their life. "Can we find out what help is out there, so we know our options?" is easier to hear than "You need to move".
Make it about information, not a decision. An assessment is a way of finding out, not a commitment.
Bring in someone they trust, often their GP, and talk about one concrete worry rather than everything at once.
Expect more than one conversation. It is a big change, and people often need time.

Adults are presumed to be able to make their own decisions, including where they live. If a person can no longer make a particular decision, in Victoria someone they appointed under an enduring power of attorney may be able to, or VCAT can appoint a guardian. The Office of the Public Advocate's advice service (1300 309 337) can explain how this works. More on decision-making in Victoria.

The one thing to do now: get assessed

Apply through My Aged Care, online, on 1800 200 422, or at a Services Australia centre. An assessor works out what help the person is eligible for, which can include help at home, respite and permanent residential care. The assessment costs nothing and nothing has to be taken up.

Applying early matters because there are waits at each step. Nationally, the median wait for an assessment was 26 days, and the median time from applying to entering permanent residential care was 138 days (April to June 2026). If the person is in hospital, assessments are usually done much faster; see urgent and hospital discharge help.

Respite: a way to try it

A short stay in an aged care home gives a carer a break and lets everyone see how the person settles. Residential respite needs an assessment approving it, and:

costs only the basic daily fee, $68.93 a day (as at 20 September 2026), with no means test and no room payment;
allows up to 63 subsidised days a financial year, which can be extended by 21 days at a time with an assessor's approval;
may involve a booking fee: the lower of one week of fees or 25% of the fee for the whole stay, deducted from fees on entry, refundable if cancelled more than 7 days before.

The national median wait to start residential respite after applying was 100 days (April to June 2026), so plan early where you can. In an emergency, Carer Gateway (1800 422 737) can help. See respite care.

Help at home first?

For many people, help at home through Support at Home works well for a long time. Ongoing funding has its own wait: the national median from application to starting services was 297 days (April to June 2026). See Support at Home, including when an aged care home makes more sense.

When it can't wait

If the person is in hospital and staff are talking about discharge, or a carer suddenly can't continue, things move differently. See urgent aged care and hospital discharge. If anyone is in danger, call 000.

Questions families ask at this stage

How do I know when it is time for an aged care home?

There is rarely one moment. A few signs together, such as falls, missed medication, weight loss, confusion or an exhausted carer, usually mean more help is needed. That may be help at home first. When needs are round the clock, or home is no longer safe, an aged care home is often the next step.

I feel guilty even thinking about it. Is that normal?

Almost everyone does. Looking into care is not giving up on someone; it is making sure they are safe, looked after and not alone. Many families find the guilt eases once the person is settled somewhere good.

My parent refuses to talk about it. What can we do?

Start small and lead with their goals: staying safe and independent for as long as possible. Suggest just finding out what help exists, which is what an assessment does. A GP is often a trusted voice. Unless a person has lost the capacity to decide, the decision is theirs, and they can be supported to make it.

Does getting assessed mean they have to go into a home?

No. The assessment works out what help a person is eligible for. It might approve help at home through Support at Home, respite, or permanent residential care. Nothing has to be taken up.

How long does it take to get into aged care?

It varies a lot. Nationally, the median time from applying through My Aged Care to entering permanent residential care was 138 days in April to June 2026, and the median wait for an assessment was 26 days. In hospital, assessments are usually done much faster. Applying early means the approval is in place when it is needed.

Can we try an aged care home before deciding?

Yes, that is one of the main uses of respite. A short stay costs only the basic daily fee ($68.93 a day as at 20 September 2026), with no means test and no room payment, and up to 63 subsidised days are available each financial year.

General information only

General information only. This page explains how aged care fees and accommodation payments work, using the rates and rules published by the Australian Government as at 20 September 2026. It is not financial, legal or tax advice, and it doesn't take anyone's personal circumstances into account. The fees a person actually pays are worked out by Services Australia after an income and assets assessment, and the accommodation price is agreed with the home in an accommodation agreement (it can't be more than the home's published price). Rates change several times a year. For an official estimate, use the fee estimator on My Aged Care (myagedcare.gov.au, 1800 200 422). For free information about your options, call the Services Australia Financial Information Service on 132 300.

Sources

Last reviewed October 2026. Fee figures are as at 20 September 2026 unless another date is shown next to them. General information only, not financial, legal or medical advice. We are not a government service. How we check our facts.