Juniper Residential Aged Care fees and charges

Choosing a Residential Aged Care Home is a big decision and it’s important to understand the costs and fees associated with care. To help you navigate the process, our friendly Juniper team are on hand to support you to understand the fees and make the process as smooth as possible.

Although the Australian Government provides funding for Residential Aged Care, you may be asked to contribute to the cost of your accommodation and care if you can afford to do so. The amount you pay and the level of Government assistance you receive is determined by an income and asset assessment.

Income and Asset Means Assessment

To access government subsidies that support:

Accommodation costs

Care services, including Everyday Living Costs and Non-Clinical Care Contribution

you will need to complete an assessment through Services Australia or Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

The government will issue you with a letter to confirm if you need to contribute towards Accommodation or Care services. The government will subsidise your Clinical Care regardless of your means assessment.

Aged Care fees

Accommodation costs

This is the agreed price you pay for your room in an aged care home.

The outcome of your government means assessment will determine how much you contribute towards your accommodation or if you get any government assistance towards these costs.

If you need to pay the full or partial accommodation costs you can choose how you make this payment:

1. A lump sum payment or,
2. Daily payment or,
3. Combination of a lump sum payment and daily payment.

It is recommended that you seek independent financial advice to decide which payment option works best for you. Services Australia offers free support through the Financial Information Service that can help you make an informed decision. You can also visit My Aged Care for more advice.

Lump sum payment

• Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD): This is when you pay the full accommodation cost.
• Refundable Accommodation Contribution (RAC): A lump sum you can pay towards your accommodation if you are eligible for government assistance. The amount is based on your
  assessed accommodation contribution, rather than the advertised room price.

Please note under the Aged Care Act for residents subject to either RAD/RAC arrangements:

• You can only make a lump sum payment if we have received the outcome of your means
  assessment from Services Australia or if you choose not to disclose your means.
• Providers retain an amount calculated daily at 2% per annum of the outstanding RAD or
  RAC balance, for up to five years. Retention deductions are not refundable when you leave
  care. Different arrangements may apply depending on when you first entered permanent
  residential aged care.

Daily Payment

• Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP): This is the daily cost of your accommodation. For
  customers subject to new accommodation arrangements, DAPs are indexed on 20 March and
  20 September each year using the government’s published CPI-based index.
• Daily Accommodation Contribution (DAC): This is when the government helps with the costs.
  The amount is determined by Services Australia based on your means assessment. DACs are
  adjusted in accordance with Services Australia advice and applicable rates and thresholds.

Combination of a lump sum payment and daily payment

You can choose to pay part of your accommodation costs as a partial lump sum payment and daily payment. Any lump sum payment made will reduce the daily fee:

• RAD and DAP
• RAC and DAC

Everyday Living Costs

Basic Daily Fee

Every person who enters permanent care pays a Basic Daily Fee. This is set at 85% of the basic single aged pension. The fee covers daily running costs such as laundry and cleaning.

The Basic Daily Care Fee is adjusted by the Federal Government each March and September in line with Age Pension increases.

Hotelling Supplement

This includes things such as catering, cleaning, and gardening. Your government means assessment will let you know if you can afford to contribute more towards everyday living costs.

Non-clinical Care Contribution

This includes bathing, mobility assistance and lifestyle activities. Your government means assessment will let you know if you can afford to contribute towards non-clinical care.

Residential age care costs if you entered care between 2014 and 2025

If you are already in permanent residential aged care before the 1 November 2025, or if you were receiving a Home Care Package as of 12 September 2024, or if you were approved for a Home Care Package as of 12 September 2024 your fees would sit under the previous 1 July 2014 fee arrangements.

My Aged Care has information on this:

• Receiving care already?
• Aged care home costs and fees 

Financial Hardship Assistance

If your financial situation changes due to circumstances out of your control, you can apply for financial hardship with Services Australia. If you are eligible the government may provide some financial aid towards your expenses.

Services Australia will check how much income you have access to after you have paid all your essential expenses. If you have access to more than 15% of the basic age pension after you have paid your essential expenses, you may not be eligible for financial hardship assistance.