Aged care support and services
Find out about the different aged care options and getting advice about aged care services.
On this page
How to get aged care services
Both DVA and the Department of Health offer aged care services to older Australians.
Our aged care services
These are entry-level services for lower care needs. They are not designed for more complex care needs.
They are only available to eligible veterans and war widowed partners.
You can receive services through us and the Department of Health at the same time. But each service can only be provided by one department.
Find out more about our aged care services.
Department of Health’s aged care services
These services are available to all Australians, including veterans and war widowed partners.
My Aged Care is the Commonwealth Government's main entry point to aged care for all Australians.
You can contact My Aged Care if you:
- need aged care information
- are thinking about entering residential aged care need services, such as a Home Care Package.
To get information about aged care services, you can:
- call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422
- visit My Aged Care.
Our aged care services
We can provide aged care services for eligible veterans and their families. You can also get aged care services through the Department of Health. Please check the Department of Health’s aged care services for full details.
Help so you can stay in your home
Our Summary of home services can help you find services available when you live in your own home. These include:
- help around the house including cleaning, personal care and safety-related maintenance
- home nursing visits
- aids and equipment
- help to manage a chronic health condition
- back-up care if you or your carer need a break, including emergency respite care
- care outside of the home while you recover from an illness or injury
- aged care resources, including books and webinars.
Residential aged care
In our Summary of aged care services, you can find information about:
- moving into aged care
- aged care costs
- services available
- aged care resources.
Open Arms – Veterans and Families Counselling
Moving into aged care can be a big change for your and your family.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, we encourage you to reach out for support.
Open Arms – Veterans and Families Counselling provides free and confidential counselling to anyone who has served at least one day in the ADF.
Partners and family members of those who served can also access counselling.
You can get help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:
Back to topLegal advice
Legal Aid provides free legal services. These include:
- legal information
- referral services
- advice over the phone.
If you need legal advice from an Australian lawyer in your state or territory, these links may be helpful:
- Community Legal Centres Australia
- Law Society of the Australian Capital Territory
- Law Society of New South Wales
- Law Society of the Northern Territory
- Queensland Law Society
- Law Society of South Australia
- Law Society of Tasmania
- Law Society of Victoria
- Law Society of Western Australia
Financial advice
Services Australia offers financial support payments if you are eligible. The Financial Information Service (FIS) can help you make informed decisions about your finances. You can:
My Aged Care has information if you need help with aged care costs. You can:
- call 1800 200 422
- visit My Aged Care's financial hardship assistance page.
RSL Defence Care may be able to help you with short-term payments to help with bills. You can:
- call 02 8088 0388
- visit RSL Defence Care.
Aged care advocates
Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN)
OPAN offers free, independent and confidential advice to:
- older people
- their families
- their representatives.
You can:
- call 1800 700 600 for the National Aged Care Advocacy Line
- visit OPAN.
General advocates
Advocates are people who are trained to help you access services and payments.
You can use the Accredited Advocate Register to:
- search for an ESO
- find an advocate in your area.
Ex-service organisations (ESOs)
ESOs support veterans and their families and commemorate those who served and are serving.
We can help you find an ex-service organisation.
Council on the Ageing (COTA)
COTA is an advocacy and representation organisation for older Australians.
Contact your state or territory office for more information:
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia.
Accreditation standards
Commonwealth funded residential aged care facilities must follow Residential Aged Care Accreditation Standards.
The standards cover areas such as:
- management
- staffing
- health and personal care
- lifestyle
- safety
- security.
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission monitors providers and gives accreditation to those who follow the standards.
Find out more about accreditation.
Back to topComplaints about aged care
You should raise any issues with your service provider first if you feel comfortable to do so.
If you are unable to resolve the issue with them, you can contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
If you want to make a complaint or give feedback to the Commission:
- call on 1800 951 822
- make a complaint online
The Commission is only able to investigate issues with government-funded services.
Back to topElder abuse
The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) has information about elder abuse prevention.
You can call the National Elder Abuse Line on 1800 ELDERH(elp) (1800 353 374) to:
- get help
- report elder abuse.
The phone number will direct you to the appropriate authority in your state or territory.
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