Deciding where to live in later life is one of the biggest choices many Australians make. Should you stay in the family home, move somewhere smaller, choose a retirement village or an over-50s community, or move closer to family? What will it cost, not just to move in but over the years and when you leave? And how do you get help at home or find a good aged care home when the time comes?
Senior Living Online is an independent, plain-English guide to retirement living in Australia. We explain how retirement villages and their fees work, how land lease communities differ, what to consider when downsizing and moving, and how to get started with aged care. Every guide links to official sources such as Moneysmart, state consumer protection agencies, Services Australia, the Australian Taxation Office and My Aged Care, so you can check the details for your situation.
3
Village cost stages
Entry, ongoing and exit
1800 200 422
My Aged Care
Start aged care here
$300,000
Downsizer cap
Per person, ATO
Retirement villages
Retirement villages offer independent living in a community, with shared facilities and less maintenance. But contracts are complex, and exit fees can be large. Our retirement villages section covers:
- How retirement villages work: contract types, costs, services and residents' rights.
- Exit fees explained: deferred management fees, capital gains, refurbishment and timing.
- Questions to ask before you sign: for the operator, residents, your lawyer and adviser.
- Laws by state: legislation, regulators and disputes.
Downsizing and moving
Our downsizing and moving section helps you compare options and plan:
- Over-50s and land lease communities: owning the home, leasing the land and site fees.
- Downsizing your home: costs, the downsizer contribution, pensions and decluttering.
- Moving home checklist: a timeline from three months out to settling in.
Aged care
When more support is needed, our aged care section explains:
- How aged care works: My Aged Care, assessments, help at home and residential care.
- Choosing an aged care home: comparing homes, star ratings, visiting and costs.
- Wills, powers of attorney and advance care planning: the documents that let your wishes be followed.
Five principles for good decisions
- Think long term. Consider how a home will suit you in five or ten years, not just today.
- Add up the whole cost. Include entry, ongoing and exit costs, and compare over different lengths of stay.
- Read everything. Disclosure documents, contracts and agreements set out your rights and costs.
- Get independent advice. Talk to a lawyer and a licensed financial adviser before you sign.
- Plan before a crisis. Talk with family, prepare legal documents and register with My Aged Care early.
Who this guide is for
- Older Australians thinking about their next home.
- Adult children and carers helping a parent decide.
- Current village and community residents wanting to understand their rights.
- Anyone planning ahead for later life.
How we research
We base our guides on official and authoritative sources, including state and territory retirement village and land lease regulators, Moneysmart, Services Australia, the Australian Taxation Office, My Aged Care, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, the Older Persons Advocacy Network and Advance Care Planning Australia. We cite sources on every page and update guides when rules change. We never invent statistics, fees or testimonials, and example figures are always labelled as illustrations. Read our editorial policy.
About this domain
SeniorLivingOnline.com.au previously hosted a retirement village directory run by a different operator. That site closed, and the domain was relaunched in 2026 as an independent guide with every page written from scratch. We're not connected with the previous operator, and we don't run a directory or take payment to recommend any village, community or provider.
