If care is needed right now

Urgent aged care: what to do right now

If a parent is in hospital and can't safely go home, or is unsafe where they are, take a breath — this is fixable, and there's free help. Here are the calls to make first.

My Aged Care (free, official) 1800 200 422 Say it's urgent. Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Sat 10am–2pm. Carer Gateway (emergency respite) 1800 422 737 For a carer in crisis needing an urgent break.

In a medical emergency, call 000. If they're in hospital, ask to speak to the social worker or discharge planner — that's the fastest path.

The first 48 hours

  1. 1

    Call My Aged Care (1800 200 422) and say it's urgent.

    They register the person and can fast-track an assessment. Have their Medicare number and a rough picture of what's happening.

  2. 2

    If they're in hospital, ask for an in-hospital ACAT assessment.

    This is the Aged Care Assessment Team. In hospital it's usually much faster (often 48–72 hours vs weeks in the community) and can approve residential care, respite or Transition Care.

  3. 3

    If discharge feels unsafe, say so — clearly and in writing.

    You can decline an unsafe discharge. Tell the social worker: "I don't believe this is a safe discharge." Ask what supports are being put in place.

  4. 4

    Ask about Transition Care.

    After a hospital stay, the Transition Care Programme gives up to 12 weeks of therapy and support (in a facility or at home) — it buys time to make the right longer-term decision without rushing.

  5. 5

    Line up emergency respite if you need breathing room.

    Residential respite (up to 63 subsidised days/year) can be fast-tracked in a crisis. Carer Gateway (1800 422 737) can help a carer in crisis arrange it.

  6. 6

    Get the person safe first; sort the money in parallel.

    Care can't be refused because the means assessment isn't finished. Move in, then submit Services Australia's SA457 — fees back-date. Low-means residents pay $0 for accommodation, so no one is turned away.

Need a place found fast?

If you'd like help finding a home with an immediate vacancy that fits, a placement specialist can call around for you straight away — they're paid by the home, not by you, so it's free for families. Tell us the situation. (And My Aged Care, 1800 200 422, is always free.)

We're an independent guide — not a home or a sales agency — and your details just help us match you and a placement specialist to homes that fit. We'll never sell your data or pressure you. Privacy Policy.

Common questions

Urgent aged care — your questions

The hospital wants to discharge my parent but they can't cope at home — what are my rights?

You can decline an unsafe discharge. A hospital cannot force a discharge to a setting that is clearly unsafe. Ask to speak to the hospital social worker or discharge planner and say plainly: "I do not believe this is a safe discharge." Ask for an in-hospital ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team) assessment, which is faster than a community assessment — often 48–72 hours rather than weeks — and can approve residential care, residential respite or a Transition Care Programme place. You can also ask about Transition Care, which gives short-term therapy and support (in a facility or at home) for up to 12 weeks after a hospital stay.

How do I get emergency respite care right now?

Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 and say it is urgent / an emergency. For a carer in crisis you can also call the Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737, which can arrange emergency respite. Residential respite needs an ACAT respite approval, but in a genuine emergency this can be fast-tracked, and many homes hold respite beds. Respite is means-tested and you can access up to 63 subsidised days a financial year.

How fast can someone actually move into an aged-care home?

Once there is an ACAT approval for residential care, a placement can happen within days if a home has a vacancy — metro homes often do. The assessment is usually the bottleneck, which is why an in-hospital ACAT (faster) matters in a crisis. A free placement specialist can also call around to find homes with an immediate vacancy that match your situation.

Do we have to sort out the money before they move in?

No — care cannot be refused because the means assessment is not finished. You can move in and submit the Services Australia income and assets assessment (form SA457) afterwards; fees are then back-dated. In a crisis, get the person safe first and deal with the financial assessment in parallel. Supported (low-means) residents pay $0 for accommodation, so no one is turned away for being unable to pay.

When the immediate crisis eases

How the ACAT assessment works Respite care Work out the cost Find and compare homes