Aged Care
How to Choose Aged Care Facilities in Brisbane: A Complete 2026 Guide for Families
Quick Answer
To choose an aged care home in Brisbane, get an assessment through My Aged Care (1800 200 422), shortlist homes near family using the Find a Provider tool and star ratings, and visit two or three homes, ideally twice. Then complete a means assessment, compare the full costs in writing and consider a respite stay before deciding.
Choosing an aged care home in Brisbane is one of the biggest decisions a family will make, and it is rarely made at a calm moment. Often it follows a fall, a hospital stay or the slow realisation that caring at home is no longer safe. This aged care guide for Brisbane families brings everything together in one place: what residential aged care is, how to shortlist homes, what to ask on a tour, how fees work under the Aged Care Act 2024, and how to make the final decision with confidence.
Whether you are just starting to research or need to decide within days, use the steps below in order, or jump straight to the section you need.
Basics
Assessment
Shortlist
Visit
Costs
Decide
Checklist
How to choose an aged care home in Brisbane: the short version
- Get an aged care assessment through My Aged Care (1800 200 422).
- Shortlist homes near family using the Find a Provider tool and star ratings.
- Visit two or three homes, ideally twice and at different times of day.
- Complete a means assessment and compare the full costs in writing.
- Consider a respite stay before making a permanent decision.
What Is a Residential Aged Care Home?
A residential aged care home provides accommodation, meals, personal care and nursing care for older people who can no longer live safely and independently at home. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare describes it as 24-hour care for people who need help with everyday tasks and health care.
Is a nursing home the same as an aged care home? Yes. In Australia, “nursing home”, “aged care home”, “aged care facility” and “residential aged care” all describe the same thing. “Nursing home” is the older term, while “residential aged care home” is the official one. All government-funded homes follow the same laws, Quality Standards and fee rules.
How does a nursing home work day to day? Residents have their own room, share dining and living areas, and receive help with showering, dressing, medications and meals as needed. Every home must have a Registered Nurse on site 24 hours a day, and homes must meet care minutes targets based on a national average of 215 minutes of direct care per resident per day, including 44 minutes from a Registered Nurse. Our guide to care minutes in aged care explains how this works.
What is “high care”? The old split between low care and high care was removed years ago. Today every resident’s needs are assessed under the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC), and homes provide whatever level of care each person needs, so there is usually no need to move as needs increase.
Brisbane homes typically offer permanent care, respite care for short stays, and palliative care. Services vary between homes, so always ask each one what it provides.
When Is It Time to Consider Aged Care?
There is rarely one clear moment. Common signs include repeated falls, needing help at night, missed medications, weight loss, growing isolation and a family carer who can no longer keep up. Several signs together, or any sign that puts someone’s safety at risk, is a strong reason to start planning.
Our guide to ageing in place vs residential care covers these signs in detail. If a hospital stay has forced the question, read about the hospital to aged care transition.
Step 1: Get an Aged Care Assessment
Before moving into any government-funded aged care home in Brisbane, your loved one must be approved through an aged care needs assessment. Apply online through My Aged Care or call 1800 200 422. An assessor will visit, usually at home or in hospital, to understand their needs.
Waits for assessments can be long, so apply early, even if you are still months away from needing care. An approval for residential care does not expire. Our guide to the aged care assessment team explains each step, and our guide to aged care waiting lists in Queensland covers current wait times.
Step 2: Find and Shortlist Aged Care Homes in Brisbane
The My Aged Care Find a Provider tool is the best starting point for any Brisbane aged care search. Search by suburb or postcode to see each home’s services, room prices and star ratings. Aim for a shortlist of two or three homes.
How to read aged care star ratings
Every home receives an overall rating from 1 to 5 stars, plus four sub-ratings. Look at all four, not just the overall score.
★★★★★ Residents’ Experience
What residents themselves say about care, food, dignity and daily life.
★★★★★ Compliance
The home’s regulatory record with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
★★★★★ Staffing
How the care minutes delivered compare with the home’s targets, updated every three months.
★★★★★ Quality Measures
Clinical outcomes such as falls, pressure injuries and unplanned weight loss.
A strong overall rating with a low compliance or staffing score is worth asking about. Our guide to the aged care star rating system explains each rating in more detail.
Aged care across Brisbane: choosing an area
Location matters more than many families expect. Residents who receive regular visits tend to settle better, so choose a home family members can realistically visit often.
Bayside and Redlands
Wellington Point, Cleveland, Capalaba, Birkdale and Victoria Point. Quieter bayside suburbs near Redland Hospital. See Redlands aged care.
Inner Brisbane
Suburbs close to the CBD and major hospitals such as the Royal Brisbane and Women’s and the Princess Alexandra. Room prices are often higher.
Northside
Suburbs such as Aspley and Chermside, with good access to the Prince Charles Hospital.
Southside and Logan
Suburbs such as Annerley, Sunnybank and the Logan corridor, with a wide range of home sizes and prices.
Step 3: Visit Your Shortlisted Homes
No website or rating replaces a visit. A tour shows you how staff speak to residents, whether the home feels calm and clean, and whether your loved one could picture living there. Visit at least twice if you can, once at a mealtime and once at a different time of day, and bring your loved one if possible.
Eight questions every Brisbane family should ask:
- Did you meet your care minutes and Registered Nurse targets in recent quarters?
- How many Registered Nurses are on duty overnight?
- Will my loved one see the same carers most days?
- How are care plans developed, and how often are they reviewed with family?
- Can I see this week’s menu and activities calendar?
- What is the room price, and what payment options do I have?
- Which services are included, and are any optional extras charged?
- How do I raise a concern, and who responds?
For the full list, use our questions to ask when touring an aged care home in Brisbane.
What Makes a Good Aged Care Home?
Gardens and room sizes matter, but they are not what determines care quality. These are the factors that make the biggest difference.
01 Staffing and continuity
Enough skilled staff, low turnover and familiar faces. This is the single biggest factor in day-to-day care.
02 Close to family
Regular visits support wellbeing and help you notice changes early.
03 A strong safety record
Check compliance and quality ratings, and look for patterns rather than one-off issues.
04 Clear fees
All costs explained in writing, with no pressure to sign up for optional extras.
05 Personalised care plans
Care built around the person, reviewed regularly and with families involved.
06 Real daily life
Varied activities, outings, outdoor space and genuine social connection.
07 Good food
Meals cooked with care and choice. The strengthened Quality Standards include a dedicated standard for food and nutrition.
Step 4: Understand Aged Care Costs in Brisbane
For people entering care from 1 November 2025, residential aged care fees are made up of several parts. Clinical care is fully funded by the Australian Government.
| Fee | Who pays | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Basic daily fee | Everyone | Everyday living such as meals, cleaning and laundry. Set at 85% of the single basic Age Pension and indexed each March and September. |
| Hotelling contribution | Means-tested | A contribution toward everyday living costs, capped daily. |
| Non-clinical care contribution | Means-tested | Personal care and lifestyle services. Subject to a daily cap, a lifetime cap and a four-year cap. |
| Accommodation | Means-tested | A refundable deposit (RAD), a daily payment (DAP) or a mix, unless the government supports the resident. |
| Clinical care | Government | Nursing and clinical care, at no cost to the resident. |
Fee amounts change twice a year, so check the latest figures on My Aged Care or with Services Australia before deciding. Room prices vary widely across Brisbane, and every home must publish its prices on the Find a Provider tool.
RAD retention. For people entering care from 1 November 2025, homes can retain part of the refundable accommodation deposit, at 2% a year for up to five years. This makes the choice between a RAD, a DAP or a combination more important than before, so it is worth speaking with an aged care financial adviser.
Supported residents. People with lower income and assets may have their accommodation costs fully or partly paid by the government. See our supported residents page.
Complete a means assessment with Services Australia early, as residents who do not may be charged at higher rates. For more detail, read our guides to aged care home fees in Australia, the refundable accommodation deposit and higher everyday living fees, or visit our financial information page.
Know Your Rights in Any Brisbane Aged Care Home
Since 1 November 2025, every person receiving government-funded aged care has rights protected by law under the Statement of Rights. These include the right to make your own decisions, to be treated with dignity and respect, to receive safe and high-quality care, to be involved in planning your care, and to raise concerns without fear of reprisal.
If a concern is not resolved by the home, contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission on 1800 951 822, or the Older Persons Advocacy Network on 1800 700 600 for free, independent advice.
Step 5: Make the Decision and Plan the Move
Think about future needs. Choose a home that can support your loved one as their needs increase, so a second move is less likely.
Consider respite first. A short respite stay lets your loved one experience a home before committing. Many families find this makes the decision far easier.
Involve your loved one. Wherever possible, the person moving should visit and have their say. Their comfort matters most.
Read every agreement. You will sign a service agreement and, for permanent care, an accommodation agreement. Optional extras can only be agreed after moving in. See our guide to the aged care resident agreement.
Plan the first weeks. Bring familiar belongings, share your loved one’s routines with staff and visit often at first. Our step by step guide to moving into aged care walks through the practical tasks.
Choosing an Aged Care Facility Checklist
Use this checklist to compare up to three Brisbane homes side by side. Print it or copy it into your notes.
What to checkHome AHome BHome C
Overall and staffing star ratings
Easy for family to visit
Registered Nurse on duty overnight
Staff greet residents by name
Clean, fresh and calm environment
Menu and activities suit your loved one
Room price and payment options in writing
Optional extras explained clearly
Respite available for a trial stay
Your loved one felt comfortable
Aged Care in South East Brisbane With Superior Care Group
Superior Care Group is a family-owned aged care provider that has cared for older Queenslanders for over 45 years. Our Wellington Park residence at Wellington Point, in Brisbane’s south-east bayside, backs onto native bushland with manicured gardens and its very own Eden farm. It is close to Redland Hospital and convenient for families across Cleveland, Birkdale, Victoria Point and the wider Redlands. For families further south, Merrimac Park serves the Gold Coast.
Both residences offer permanent care, respite and palliative care, with Registered Nurses on site around the clock. Learn more about our aged care facility in Brisbane, or call to book a private tour.
BRISBANE SOUTH EAST
Visit Wellington Park
16 Balmoral Street, Wellington Point
GOLD COAST
Merrimac Park
50 Macadie Way, Merrimac
Sources: My Aged Care: Aged care home costs and fees · Department of Health, Disability and Ageing: Care minutes and 24/7 Registered Nurses · AIHW GEN: People using aged care · Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
