{"id":1177,"date":"2025-10-13T09:57:55","date_gmt":"2025-10-13T09:57:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/?p=1177"},"modified":"2025-10-13T09:57:55","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T09:57:55","slug":"aged-care-reforms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/newsite\/2025\/10\/13\/aged-care-reforms\/","title":{"rendered":"Aged Care Reforms: What\u2019s Changing from 1 November 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Aged Care Reforms: What\u2019s Changing from 1 November 2025<\/h1>\n

If you or a loved one is planning for aged care, you\u2019ve probably heard murmurs of reform. The big shifts are coming on 1 November 2025, when a new Aged Care Act kicks in \u2014 and it will reshape how fees, services, and regulations are handled.\u00a0 So, just what is in the aged care reforms?<\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll walk through the key changes, how they might affect you (or someone you care for), and what you can start doing now to prepare.<\/p>\n

Why the Aged Care Reform Is Happening<\/h2>\n

– The Aged Care Act 2024<\/a> replaces the old 1997 legislation and comes into force on 1 November 2025.
\n– The reforms aim for a more transparent, sustainable, and fair aged care system, with clearer funding models, updated fee structures, and stronger regulatory oversight.
\n– Many existing residents will be \u201cgrandfathered\u201d into the old system, while new entrants will fall under the new rules.<\/p>\n

Key Changes to Expect (From 1 November 2025)<\/h2>\n

Here are the major shifts you should know:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Area<\/td>\nWhat\u2019s Changing<\/td>\nWhy It Matters \/ Impact<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fee & Accommodation Arrangements<\/td>\nThe number of fee & accommodation arrangements increases: from 2 to 3 in some cases.<\/td>\nIt may mean more complexity in which rules apply to different residents.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
RAD (Refundable Accommodation Deposit)<\/td>\nProviders can retain up to 2% p.a. for up to 5 years (max 10%) for new residents.<\/td>\nFamilies will receive a smaller refund \u2014 this impacts estate planning.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DAP (Daily Accommodation Payment)<\/td>\nDAPs will now be indexed to inflation (CPI).<\/td>\nPaying via DAP could get more expensive over time.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
New Contributions<\/td>\nTwo new means-tested contributions: Hotelling Supplement & Non-Clinical Care Contribution.<\/td>\nMay raise daily costs for some residents.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Grandfathering<\/td>\nCurrent residents are protected under existing rules.<\/td>\nEntry date becomes crucial to determine which system applies.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fee Letters<\/td>\nNew fee advice letters outline arrangements clearly.<\/td>\nFamilies will better understand cost breakdowns upfront.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

What\u2019s Staying the Same (or Largely Unchanged)<\/h2>\n

– The Basic Daily Fee continues.
\n– Optional extras and lifestyle services will still exist, but with clearer fee disclosure.<\/p>\n

Who Is \/ Isn\u2019t Affected<\/h2>\n

– People entering care on or after 1 November 2025 will be under the new system.
\n– Existing residents will largely retain their current fee arrangements.
\n– Home Care Package holders (as of 12 September 2024) may have transition protections.<\/p>\n

What You Should Do Now (October Preparations)<\/h2>\n

To make sure you\u2019re ready and not caught off guard:
\n1. Model both old & new scenarios.
\n2. Time your entry carefully \u2014 entry before 1 Nov 2025 might be beneficial.
\n3. Get financial documents in order.
\n4. Review RAD vs DAP strategies.
\n5. Seek advice early to navigate changes.
\n6. Review current contracts for grandfathering rules.<\/p>\n

Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n

The 1 November 2025 aged care reforms are the biggest shake-up in years. While they bring needed improvements, they also bring complexity.<\/p>\n

At Trusted Aged Care Services,<\/a> we\u2019re already helping Gold Coast families prepare and navigate these changes. Reach out for tailored guidance that protects both financial wellbeing and peace of mind.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Aged Care Reforms: What\u2019s Changing from 1 November 2025 If you or a loved one is planning for aged care, you\u2019ve probably heard murmurs of reform. The big shifts are coming on 1 November 2025, when a new Aged Care Act kicks in \u2014 and it will reshape how fees, services, and regulations are handled.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1178,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[21,22,155,156],"class_list":["post-1177","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aged-care","tag-aged-care","tag-aged-care-advice","tag-aged-care-changes","tag-aged-care-reforms"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1177","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1177"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1177\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1177"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1177"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trustedagedcare.com.au\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}