Choosing an aged care provider or home: what to compare

Start with the official tool

My Aged Care has a Find a provider tool that lists providers of government-funded aged care by place and type of care. For aged care homes it also shows Star Ratings and information about prices. It is a sensible starting point for building a shortlist, alongside the public register listings on this site.

What the star ratings show

Star Ratings give each aged care home between one and five stars, built from four areas: residents’ experience, compliance with the standards, staffing, and quality measures. A low compliance rating limits the overall rating. They are a useful way to compare homes quickly, but they are a summary, so look at each of the four areas as well as the overall number.

Ratings are updated over time, so check that you are looking at the current ones.

Go and see for yourself

If you can, visit more than once and at different times of day. Notice how staff speak to residents, whether people look occupied and comfortable, whether the place feels clean and calm, and whether the food looks appealing. Ask residents and families how they find it. Ask for the resident agreement and fees in writing before you decide.

Questions to ask

Ask how staffing works including overnight, how care plans are made and reviewed, how family can be involved, how complaints are handled and what happens if your needs change. For in-home services, ask who will visit, how regular workers are arranged and how prices are set.

Ask what is included in the price and what is extra. This is general information, not advice about a particular provider.

Fit matters as much as the rating

A high rating does not guarantee a place suits you. Think about where it is and how easily family can visit, whether staff speak your language or understand your culture and faith, what the food is like, whether pets or hobbies are welcome and how much privacy you will have. Write down what would make it feel like home.

Before you sign anything, take the agreement home, read it with someone you trust and ask for anything unclear to be explained in plain words.

Frequently asked questions

Where should I start when choosing an aged care provider or home?

My Aged Care has a Find a provider tool that lists providers of government-funded aged care by place and type of care. For aged care homes it also shows Star Ratings and information about prices, so it is a sensible starting point for building a shortlist.

What do aged care Star Ratings show?

Star Ratings give each aged care home between one and five stars, built from four areas: residents’ experience, compliance with the standards, staffing, and quality measures. A low compliance rating limits the overall rating. They are a summary, so look at each of the four areas as well as the overall number.

What should I ask a provider or home?

Ask how staffing works including overnight, how care plans are made and reviewed, how family can be involved, how complaints are handled and what happens if your needs change. For in-home services, ask who will visit, how regular workers are arranged and how prices are set, and ask what is included in the price and what is extra.

Does a high rating mean a place suits me?

A high rating does not guarantee a place suits you. Think about where it is, how easily family can visit, whether staff speak your language or understand your culture and faith, and how much privacy you will have. Take the agreement home and read it with someone you trust before you sign.

Keep learning

• Support at Home explained: how in-home aged care works: Support at Home is the program that helps older people stay in their own homes. Here is how it works, from approval to choosing a provider.
• When your aged care needs change: reviews and changing provider: Needs change, and aged care can change with them. Here is how to ask for a review or reassessment and how to change provider.
• Moving into an aged care home: what to expect and what to ask: A move into an aged care home is a big step. Here is how to prepare, what stays the same and what to ask before and after you move.
• NDIS or My Aged Care: which system supports you?: Two government systems support people with disability and older people. Here is how to think about which one applies and what to do if you are not sure.

More in our aged care support guide, our step-by-step guides, or the aged care providers listed on the My Aged Care register.

Official sources

• My Aged Care: Checking quality of care
• My Aged Care: How are Star Ratings calculated?
• My Aged Care: Find a provider
• My Aged Care: What aged care homes provide

Source checked 12 October 2026. Rules and guidance can change; verify current details with the responsible agency. How we write and check our guides.