What dementia care means in practice
Dementia care is residential aged care tailored to people living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. In the early and middle stages, many people are supported well at home or in a standard aged-care home. As dementia progresses, the need usually shifts toward a secure environment, because wandering, disorientation and changed behaviours create real safety risks that an open setting cannot manage.
The defining feature of dedicated dementia care is the secure memory-support unit. This is not about confinement for its own sake – a well-designed unit lets residents move freely within a safe, contained space, with secure outdoor courtyards, clear sightlines and calming decor that reduces agitation.
How dementia care differs from standard aged care
| Feature | Standard residential care | Secure dementia unit |
|---|---|---|
| Environment | Open access | Secure, wander-safe layout |
| Staffing | General care staff | Higher ratios, dementia-trained staff |
| Daily structure | Flexible | Structured routines that reduce agitation |
| Behaviour support | As needed | Formal behaviour-support planning |
| Cost structure | RAD + daily + means-tested fees | Identical – no dementia surcharge |
Crucially, a home cannot charge more simply because a resident has dementia. The fee structure is the same as any permanent placement, so the cost difference comes from the home you choose, not the diagnosis.
What dementia care costs in 2026
Because dementia care is funded as standard residential aged care, the cost mirrors it:
- Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD). Around $450,000 on average, fully refundable when the resident leaves. You can pay it as a lump sum, a daily accommodation payment, or a combination.
- Basic daily fee. $66.80/day in 2026, set at 85% of the single basic Age Pension rate.
- Means-tested care fee. An income- and asset-based amount assessed by Services Australia, which together with the basic daily fee typically adds up to around $30,000 a year.
For a full breakdown of how these fees fit together, see our guide on aged-care fees and on how RADs work.
Wait times and how to plan ahead
Dementia-specific beds are scarcer than general beds. Where most metro homes can offer a standard vacancy within 1-4 weeks, secure dementia units typically run a 4-12 week wait because they have a fixed, smaller number of places. The practical response is to plan early: get the ACAT assessment done as soon as dementia-specific care looks likely, register interest at several suitable homes at once, and consider a free placement consultant who tracks which secure units have an opening.
How to choose a dementia care home
- Check the ACQSC star rating. Read all four pillars – overall, compliance, quality measures and resident experience – on myagedcare.gov.au.
- Look at care minutes. The sector target is 215 minutes of care per resident per day, including registered-nurse time. Dementia care leans heavily on staff time, so this matters.
- Tour the secure unit specifically. Ask to see the memory-support wing, not just the general areas, and watch how staff interact with residents.
- Ask about behaviour support and dementia training. A good home can describe its approach to agitation and wandering without hesitation.
Find dementia care in your suburb
We list homes with dementia and memory-support across Western Australia. Start with your area:
To compare homes more broadly on ACQSC star rating, beds and ownership, see our ranked guides for aged care in Perth and aged care in Adelaide.