Few decisions feel as weighty as helping a parent move into residential aged care. It often arrives after a fall, a hospital stay or a gradual realisation that managing safely at home has become too hard, and families are usually asked to absorb a new vocabulary, a new set of fees and a shortlist of unfamiliar facilities all at once. If you are the adult child doing the research, you are probably doing it in the evenings, around work and family, and with a nagging worry about getting it wrong.
This guide is written for you. A quick note on funding first: government-subsidised residential care starts with an assessment and approval through My Aged Care, so that is the first thing to sort out. From there, the guide explains how the pathway into residential aged care works, how costs are structured following the changes that took effect on 1 November 2025, and what is worth looking for when you compare residential aged care homes in Perth. It is not a sales pitch for any one provider. It is the checklist we would want a family member to have before the first tour.
Step One: Start With an Aged Care Assessment
Access to government-subsidised residential aged care begins with an assessment arranged through My Aged Care. The assessment looks at your parent’s health, daily function, cognition and personal circumstances, and it determines whether they are approved for permanent residential care or whether other supports might suit them better for now.
Three practical points are worth knowing early:
- You can ask for an assessment before a crisis. There is no rule that says you must wait until a hospital discharge forces the issue.
- Approval does not commit anyone to moving. It simply means the door is open when the time comes.
- Hospital discharge planners can help. If your parent is currently in hospital, the social work team will usually start this process and can explain the timeframes.
My Aged Care can be reached on 1800 200 422, and it remains the official starting point for anyone who is not sure where to begin.
Residential Care Versus Staying at Home
Many families ask whether residential care is truly necessary. For some people, support at home can stretch a long way. Others reach a point where around-the-clock supervision, complex nursing needs or safety risks, such as wandering, repeated falls or significant cognitive decline, are better met in a residential setting.
It helps to keep the conversation honest and open. A few questions tend to clarify things:
- Is your parent safe overnight on their own?
- Are medications being managed reliably?
- Has the carer in the family (often you) reached the limit of what is sustainable?
- Would more in-home support realistically close the gap, or only delay the inevitable?
There is no wrong answer here. The aim is a decision your parent, and the family around them, can live with.
Understanding the Costs
Aged care fees are the part families find most confusing, so it is worth slowing down here. Since 1 November 2025, residential aged care has operated under the Aged Care Act 2024, and new fee arrangements apply to people entering permanent residential care from that date. The broad structure includes:
- A basic daily fee. Everyone pays this. It is set as a proportion of the single basic Age Pension.
- Contributions towards care and everyday living costs. Depending on your parent’s income and assets, they may be asked to contribute more. Services Australia (or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs) completes a means assessment to work this out.
- An accommodation payment. This is the cost of the room, and it is published by each provider. Residents who are not assessed as low means can usually pay it as a refundable accommodation deposit (RAD), a daily accommodation payment (DAP), or a combination of the two.
- Optional extras. Some homes offer additional services at an extra cost.
The RAD is a lump sum that is refunded when the resident leaves, less any agreed deductions. The DAP is paid in instalments and is not refunded. Residents generally have a window after moving in to choose how they will pay, so you do not have to lock in a decision on day one.
One practical tip: complete the means assessment with Services Australia as early as you can. Without it, a provider may charge the room price as a daily payment in the meantime, and the paperwork is easier to sort out when it is not tangled up with a hurried move.
Because the rules are detailed and some figures are indexed regularly, always check current amounts on the My Aged Care website and ask any provider for a written fee schedule. If your parent owns a home, an independent financial adviser who specialises in aged care can also help you model the options.
What to Look for When Comparing Homes
Brochures all look reassuring. The following are the things that actually separate one home from another.
Staffing and continuity of care
Ask how many care staff are on shift during the day and overnight, and whether a registered nurse is on site around the clock. Ask how often agency staff are used. A familiar face at the bedside matters enormously to a resident with dementia, and high turnover is often a quiet warning sign.
How care is planned
A good home should be able to explain how it develops a care plan, how often it is reviewed and how family members are involved. Ask what happens when a resident’s needs change, and whether that triggers a conversation or simply a bill.
The feel of the place
Visit more than once, and at different times of day if you can. Notice whether residents are engaged or sitting in front of a television. Notice how staff speak to people, how quickly call bells are answered and whether the home smells fresh. Mealtimes are particularly revealing: is the food appetising, and is there help for those who need it?
Food, activities and community
Ask about menus and dietary needs, and whether residents have a say in them. Ask what a typical week of activities looks like, and whether there is meaningful programming for people living with dementia, not just bingo on a Tuesday.
Location and visiting
Distance is easy to underestimate. A home that is twenty minutes closer to family often means far more visits, and visits are one of the strongest protections a resident has. Consider parking, public transport and the home’s visiting policies as well.
Star ratings and published information
The Australian Government publishes star ratings and other quality information for residential aged care homes through My Aged Care. These are not the whole story, but they are a useful starting point for building a shortlist and for framing questions during a tour.
Questions to Ask on a Tour
Bring a notebook, and consider asking:
- What is the room price and what payment options are available?
- Which services are included in the basic daily fee, and what costs extra?
- How do you handle complaints, and how are families informed after an incident?
- What is your approach to pain management, palliative care and end-of-life wishes?
- Can my parent bring their own furniture and personal items?
- How do you support residents to maintain their cultural, spiritual and language needs?
- What is the process if my parent’s needs increase and they need a higher level of care?
A provider that answers these questions plainly, without hedging, is usually a good sign.
Honest Expectations About Availability
Families searching for residential aged care in Perth often discover that availability varies from home to home and week to week. Some places have rooms ready, while others keep a waiting list. Rather than assuming, call the homes on your shortlist and ask directly about current availability and expected timeframes. It is also sensible to register your interest with more than one provider, so you are not left with a single option if circumstances change.
If your parent is in hospital and time is tight, tell the admissions team, as they may be able to explain what is realistic. Plain, specific answers about availability and timeframes are a good sign, and vague ones are worth probing.
Involving Your Parent in the Decision
It is easy for the conversation to become something that happens around an older person rather than with them. Wherever possible, bring your parent into the process. Visit together, ask what matters most to them, and listen to the answer even when it is difficult to hear. Many people fear that moving into care means losing their dignity and their voice. A home that welcomes your parent’s preferences from the first conversation is telling you something important.
If your parent has cognitive impairment, it is still worth involving them as far as they are able. Make sure any formal arrangements, such as an enduring power of attorney or enduring power of guardianship, are in place and understood, because they may be needed.
Looking After Yourself, Too
Adult children carrying out this research often feel guilt, and it is worth naming it. Choosing residential care for a parent is not abandonment. For many families, it is the step that restores safety and lets the relationship return to something closer to what it was, with you as a son or daughter rather than an exhausted carer. Lean on siblings, friends and, if it helps, a counsellor or carer support service.
Where to Go From Here
If you are beginning the search for residential aged care homes in Perth, a sensible plan might look like this:
- Request or confirm an aged care assessment through My Aged Care.
- Complete the means assessment with Services Australia.
- Build a shortlist of three or four homes using location, published quality information and word of mouth.
- Tour each home, ideally twice, and use the question list above.
- Ask for written fee information and room pricing from each provider.
- Decide together, and keep the door open to revisit the choice if it is not working.
There is no perfect home, only a good fit for the person who will live there. Take your time where you can, ask direct questions and trust your instincts about the places where people seem genuinely cared for.
