Plain language · Updated April 2026

Aged care guides for Australian families.

Everything you need to understand the system — written in plain language a 12-year-old could follow, with links to official sources. No jargon, no agenda.

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How the aged care system actually works

My Aged Care · ACAT · Support at Home · CHSP

ACAT assessment — what to expect and how to prepare

Assessment · Eligibility · Funding

Support at Home — how the new program works (2025)

Home care · Funding levels · Replaced HCP

Aged care waiting times — what's realistic in 2026

Wait times · Register early · What to do now

Costs & money

What aged care actually costs — and what's covered

Means testing · RAD · Family home exemption

Aged care costs explained — fees, RADs, and daily rates

Basic daily fee · Accommodation · Income-tested fee

Aged care costs and funding

What you actually pay · Home care · RAD · DAP

Residential aged care

What it is · How to get in · Costs · Rights

Aged care means testing explained

Income and assets assessments · Centrelink forms · What to bring · How to book

Legal & documents

Power of Attorney — free government forms by state

Legal · Capacity · Every state covered

Enduring POA checklist — what to prepare and what to bring

Legal · Before solicitor · After signing

Advance Care Directives — free forms by state

End of life · Treatment preferences · Legal

Power of Attorney vs Advance Care Directive — what's the difference?

Legal · Explained simply

How to store documents so your family can find them

Google Drive · What to store · AggyPlus

Care decisions

When someone can no longer live alone — signs and next steps

Transition · Warning signs · What to do

Dementia care — navigating diagnosis and planning ahead

Dementia · BPSD · Specialist support

Navigating palliative care in Australia

End of life · Home vs inpatient · What to organise

Your rights in aged care — Aged Care Act 2024

Rights · New Act · Complaints

Disability & NDIS

NDIS and aged care: what happens when you turn 65

NDIS · Age 65 · YPIRAC · Disability supports

Family & carers

How to have the aged care conversation with your family

Family · Communication · Before crisis hits

Talking to your parents about aged care — a practical guide

Parents · Resistance · Practical scripts

Carer burnout — recognising it and what to do

Carers · Respite · Carer Gateway

Signs of carer burnout — a checklist for families

Warning signs · Self-assessment · Support

Centrelink support for carers: what you're entitled to

Carer Payment · Carer Allowance · Respite

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