Choosing an aged-care home: questions that matter

Care that matches the person

Take your assessment and support plan. Ask how the home would meet your actual needs, including mobility, medication, memory support, communication, nutrition or palliative care where relevant. A service advertised by a brand does not establish capacity in the particular home or available unit.

Ask who provides care overnight and at weekends, how changes are escalated, how your GP and specialists are involved, and what might trigger another move.

Your ordinary day

Ask about meals and choice, personal routines, going outdoors, visiting, privacy, language and cultural preferences, relationships and supported decision-making. Visit at an ordinary mealtime where permitted. The person moving in should remain central to the decision.

Read quality information in context

Check the official overall Star Rating and its four components: Residents’ Experience, Compliance, Staffing and Quality Measures. Record the dates. Read current regulatory decisions and the home’s response where applicable. An operator’s five-star-luxury description is not the government rating; a missing rating or ownership transfer is not zero stars.

Source: Official quality information ↗

The real room, the real agreement

• Is the room being shown the room available, and is the offer written?
• Can the home meet the support plan now, and what happens if needs change?
• What are all charges and optional extras for this room and fee cohort?
• What complaints, advocacy and escalation routes are available?
• How will regular visits work for the people who matter to you?

Keep written answers and compare the same questions across homes. Being near a retirement village does not guarantee admission from that village.

Source: Assessment, preferences, availability and comparison ↗