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What are "additional service fees" or "extra service fees" in nursing homes?

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In short...

In nursing homes (residential aged care), additional service fees or extra service fees are optional, out-of-pocket charges.

The details...

Nursing homes (residential aged care), additional service fees or extra service fees are optional, out-of-pocket charges. They cover "hotel-style" lifestyle upgrades and premium amenities that go beyond the basic care and accommodation covered by government funding. 

If you are evaluating aged care facilities in Australia, several key points define these fees: 

What They Cover: Upgraded meals (e.g., wine with dinner, steak), premium entertainment (e.g., in-room streaming, Wi-Fi, larger TVs), luxury furnishings, and special social activities. 


The Difference Between Them: Historically, Extra Service Fees applied to designated "Extra Service Rooms" where a higher standard of hospitality and accommodation was guaranteed. Additional Service Fees were specific, individual lifestyle choices you opted to pay for, like a premium toiletry pack or pay-TV.


Current Changes (2025/2026 Update): Under aged care reforms, the terms "Extra Service Fees" and "Additional Service Fees" have been replaced by the Higher Everyday Living Fee (HELF). No new contracts under the old names could be signed after November 1, 2025, though legacy agreements can run until October 31, 2026. 


Mandatory Protections: Facilities cannot make these upgrades a mandatory condition of your entry, and you cannot be charged for services you cannot physically use.

What should I do next?

Confirm the details with My Aged Care or the relevant provider, write down your questions and ask for important information in writing before making a decision.

Helpful Local Home Help resources

Takeaways

  • Ask for details in writing and compare more than one option where possible.
  • Confirm which fee rules apply before relying on a quoted amount.
  • Individual eligibility, availability and outcomes can vary.

About Local Home Help

How Providers Are Listed

How providers appear on Local Home Help Local Home Help helps families discover home support services available in their area. Providers may appear on the site in a few different ways. Some providers create and manage their own listing on the platform. Others may appear based on publicly available information about services operating in a particular region. This helps families see a broader view of support options available locally. Where possible, we encourage providers to claim and manage their listing so information such as services offered, contact details and service areas remain accurate and up to date. There are no paid or enhanced listings on Local Home Help, and there never will be. Claiming or managing a listing has no effect on a provider's visibility, ranking, or how often it appears in a consumer's personalised shortlist, it simply keeps the information families see accurate and current. Local Home Help does not charge consumers to access the platform. We may generate revenue in other ways in the future, but none of these will ever influence which providers a consumer sees, how they're ranked, or what appears in their shortlist. Provider visibility is, and will remain, based solely on relevance to each family's stated needs. What does not influence Liz There are no paid or enhanced listings on Local Home Help, not now, and not in the future. No provider can pay for a higher position in Liz results, a better ranking, or inclusion in a consumer's shortlist. This is a permanent commitment, not a current-state description. Claiming or updating a profile does not improve a provider's ranking. It gives Liz more accurate information about the provider's services, coverage and care model, which can make the explanation of why a provider matched clearer, but it has no effect on whether or how highly that provider appears. Local Home Help intends to generate revenue in other ways in the future - for example through tools built for providers, or products separate from the consumer matching experience. None of these will influence which providers appear in Liz's results, how they're ranked, or what a consumer sees in their personalised shortlist. Visibility and ranking are based solely on the fit factors described above, and nothing else. This reflects the platform's core ethos: Local Home Help is built consumer-first. Every design and revenue decision is made so that what a family sees from Liz is the most relevant outcome for them. Never the most profitable outcome for Local Home Help or a provider.

Independence Statement

Our independence Local Home Help is designed to help families navigate the often confusing world of home support and aged care services. The platform aims to present information in a clear and balanced way so families can better understand the types of help available and where to find it. While providers may appear on the platform, Local Home Help does not recommend one provider over another. The decision about which service may be suitable will always depend on individual circumstances. Families are encouraged to contact providers directly, ask questions and make their own enquiries before making a decision. Our focus is to make the process of understanding and finding support at home easier. Local Home Help does not accept payment of any kind in exchange for provider visibility, ranking, or shortlist placement, and never will. Any future revenue Local Home Help generates will come from sources entirely separate from how providers are matched to consumers.

Quality Signals

What to look for when choosing a provider ​ Finding the right support service can take time. When considering a provider, families may wish to look for signs of quality such as: Clear information about services offered Transparent pricing or funding options Experience supporting older people at home Relevant professional qualifications where appropriate Positive feedback or reputation in the community Willingness to answer questions about care and services It is often helpful to speak with more than one provider before making a decision. Local Home Help aims to provide a starting point for exploring services, but the best choice will depend on the needs and preferences of the individual receiving support.

About the Author

Local Home Help Editorial Team

This article was created by Local Home Help to help Australian families better understand aged care and home support options in plain English.

Our content is based on publicly available information from:

  • My Aged Care

  • Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

  • Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission

  • Provider pricing schedules and operational experience within the aged care sector.

Local Home Help is an independent consumer information platform and does not provide medical, legal or financial advice.

Important information

Aged care rules, fees, eligibility requirements and program arrangements can change. The information on this page is general guidance only and may not apply to every person or situation.

Before making a financial, legal or care decision, check the latest information with My Aged Care, Services Australia, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, or another appropriate official source.

Local Home Help does not provide legal, financial, medical or clinical advice.

Source data

Last reviewed

20/7/26, 9:08 pm

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