If you have been researching residential aged care recently, you may have noticed a new term appearing in fee schedules: the Higher Everyday Living Fee (or HELF).
While the name is new, the concept is grounded in a simple change. It is designed to give you more clarity, more protection and more choice regarding the extras that make daily life in our aged care homes special.
What is the Higher Everyday Living Fee?
As part of the New Aged Care Act that commenced on 1 November 2025, the Higher Everyday Living Fee (HELF) officially replaced the old Extra Service Fees and Additional Service Fees.
In simple terms, HELF is an optional fee that covers premium services and lifestyle enhancements that go above and beyond the standard requirements of aged care.
This means that the government funds your essential care and accommodation needs, but the HELF allows aged care providers like Catholic Healthcare to provide the additional comforts that nourish the mind, body and soul.
Why the change?
The shift to HELF was introduced by the Australian Government to improve transparency for families.
In the past, “Extra Service” and “Additional Service” fees could sometimes be confusing or inconsistent across different providers. The new HELF structure puts the power back in your hands with clearer rules:
- Transparency: You must be given a clear itemised list of exactly what you are paying for.
- Choice: It is optional. You cannot be forced to pay for a service you cannot use.
- Protection: There is now a mandatory cooling-off period, meaning you can change your mind about these extras after moving in without penalty.
What can (and cannot) be included?
It is important to know what you are getting.
Examples of what HELF can include:
- Premium dining
- Lifestyle extras
- Wellness programs
Examples of what HELF cannot include:
- Standard care
- Maintenance
- Accommodation
Enhanced Services: designed for mind, body and soul
At Catholic Healthcare, we view the Higher Everyday Living Fee as an opportunity to deliver our Enhanced Services. This is a holistic program tailored to your wellbeing that provides extra support, comfort, choice and control.
We know that quality of life is about more than just medical safety. It is about joy, connection and physical vitality. That is why our Enhanced Services focus on three key pillars:
1. Food and Hospitality
Food is the heart of the home. Through our partnership with the Maggie Beer Foundation, we have moved beyond standard menus to create a dining experience full of flavour. Your HELF contribution also allows for more choice and social connection through extras such as monthly high tea events, social clubs and extra drinks choices.
2. Additional comforts and in-room extras
We believe your room should feel just like a sanctuary. HELF allows for optional personal touches that standard funding does not cover. Examples include premium pillow and toiletries selection, flower delivery services, and electronic tagging of personal items.
3. Health, wellness and connection
Beyond standard clinical care, we offer expanded access to health and lifestyle programs. This includes allied health services such as physiotherapy, lifestyle activities like art classes, book deliveries, bus trips and other forms of social outings.
How to manage your services
We want to make managing these choices as easy as possible for you and your family. As a Catholic Healthcare resident, you can view schedules, stay updated on news happening within the business, request specific services and manage your invoices directly through the Catholic Healthcare App.
This newly updated app has been developed by our team to be a simple, secure way to stay informed about your loved one’s care and ensure they are getting the most out of their plan.
Let’s discuss your needs
Every aged care resident is different. For some, Enhanced Services mean an extra glass of wine with dinner and a newspaper; for other, it’s about accessing private restorative therapies to stay active.
Whatever your priority, the Higher Everyday Living Fee allows us to build a lifestyle package that reflects you or your loved one’s personality and preferences.
Reach out to our friendly team today to discuss how we can tailor a plain to suit your needs.
Catholic Healthcare is a leading not-for-profit provider of residential care, home care, and retirement living along Australia's east coast. With over 30 years of experience, we offer care and support to people of all faiths and backgrounds. Our services aim to enrich clients' lives by nurturing their bodies, minds, and spirits with a holistic, person-centred approach. We operate 41 residential aged care homes, 13 retirement living communities, and provide home and community services to more than 6,500 clients.
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