WHAT THE HIGHER EVERYDAY LIVING FEE (HELF) INCLUDES AT REGENTS GARDEN PERTH

The aged care fee structure in Australia changed significantly on 1 November 2025. The new Aged Care Act introduced a revised funding framework that reorganised how residents contribute to both their care and their daily living costs. Among the most significant additions to this framework was the formalisation of premium lifestyle services through the Higher Everyday Living Fee - a new fee category that allows approved providers to offer elevated lifestyle experiences beyond the standard inclusions of residential aged care.

For Perth families navigating the updated fee structure, understanding the HELF aged care Perth framework is an important step in making informed decisions about residential care options. The Higher Everyday Living Fee is not a hidden charge or a general cost increase. It is a specific, optional fee category that applies only when a resident actively chooses to access premium aged care services - and only after a separate written agreement has been signed by the resident and the provider.

The distinction between what HELF covers and what other fees cover is equally important. Standard daily fees cover meals, laundry, room cleaning, nursing care, and entertainment. Clinical care is 100% government funded. Accommodation payments cover the cost of the physical suite. HELF adds a clear fourth layer - voluntary premium lifestyle enhancements that sit above all standard inclusions. Understanding where each layer begins and ends is the foundation of confident residential aged care financial planning.

WHAT IS THE HIGHER EVERYDAY LIVING FEE?

The November 2025 Introduction

The Higher Everyday Living Fee was introduced alongside several other structural changes to Australian aged care funding under the new Aged Care Act, effective 1 November 2025. Its purpose is to provide a transparent, regulated mechanism through which providers can offer premium services to residents who want a more elevated daily living experience - beyond what standard fees cover. Before this framework existed, premium lifestyle services in aged care operated with variable transparency. Inclusions were inconsistently described, pricing structures were opaque, and residents sometimes found themselves paying for services without fully understanding what they had agreed to.

The HELF framework changes this in three important ways. First, providers must specify inclusions clearly in a named category - preventing the practice of bundling premium services into general charges that residents did not explicitly select. Second, residents must agree in writing before any charges apply, giving them full clarity and consent rights at every stage. Third, the fee category is distinctly named, making it straightforward for residents and families to identify exactly what they are being charged for and why.

Who Can Access HELF Services

HELF aged care Perth services are available to both ongoing residential care residents and short-term respite care residents at participating facilities. Eligibility is not linked to care level, means testing outcome, or length of stay. Any resident can access HELF services subject to signing the required agreement - meaning that a resident who enters care as an emergency respite admission has exactly the same access to premium lifestyle services as a resident who has lived at the facility for years. This inclusivity reflects the framework's design as a genuinely voluntary enhancement available to all residents, mandatory for none.

Residents also retain the right to discontinue HELF services at any time. There is no lock-in period requiring membership to be maintained beyond the resident's own preferences. This flexibility ensures that HELF charges are always an active choice - not a passive commitment that continues beyond the point where a resident values them.

HOW HELF DIFFERS FROM OTHER AGED CARE FEES

The Aged Care Daily Living Fee Structure in 2026

Understanding the aged care fee structure helps families contextualise exactly where HELF sits within the overall cost picture. The 2026 framework comprises four distinct fee categories:

• Basic Daily Fee (BDF): A standard contribution paid by all residents, set at 85% of the single basic age pension. Covers meals, laundry, linen, room cleaning, and standard entertainment
• Hotelling Contribution: Covers part of the cost of meals and daily living services. The amount is determined by means assessment and outlined in the fee advice letter from Services Australia
• Non-Clinical Care Contribution (NCCC): Covers non-clinical support services including assistance with personal care, mobility support, and lifestyle activities. Also means-assessed
• Higher Everyday Living Fee (HELF): The optional premium lifestyle layer. Not means-assessed. Applies only when a resident chooses to access premium aged care services and signs a separate agreement

Accommodation payments - the Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) and Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP) - sit entirely outside this daily fee structure. They cover the capital cost of the physical suite. The RAD is refunded when leaving care, less a government-mandated retention of 2% per year for a maximum of five years. The DAP is calculated using the government's Maximum Permissible Interest Rate (MPIR), currently set at 7.65% as at September 2025. Reviewing comprehensive aged care pricing information before selecting a room type and membership helps families understand how each layer interacts within the total financial picture.

What HELF Does Not Cover

The HELF framework has clearly defined boundaries. It does not fund clinical care - nursing, wound management, medication administration, and specialist medical support remain 100% government funded regardless of whether a resident accesses HELF services. It does not replace or supplement the Basic Daily Fee. It does not affect accommodation payment calculations. HELF is a distinct, additional layer for voluntary premium aged care lifestyle services only - a clear distinction that protects residents from confusion between care entitlements and optional lifestyle enhancements.

WHAT HELF SERVICES REGENTS GARDEN OFFERS

The Regents Garden HELF Service Range

At Regents Garden, the HELF aged care Perth programme delivers premium aged care services across five categories. Each category reflects a distinct dimension of elevated daily living:

• Enhanced dining experiences: Fine dining upgrades including fine wines, aperitifs, bespoke in-room dining, High Tea gatherings, and family dining celebrations coordinated by qualified culinary staff
• Premium beverage options: Barista-style coffee, curated connoisseur teas, selected wines, beers, and digestifs as daily dining enhancements separate from standard meal service
• Personalised one-on-one support: Dedicated companion carer time, personalised room features, and individually tailored lifestyle services managed by qualified staff who know each resident's preferences
• Enriched entertainment and leisure: Social bus outings, private cinema and venue bookings, specialist wellness treatments including aromatherapy and reflexology delivered by qualified practitioners
• Premium lifestyle services: Luxury bedding upgrades, streaming service access, specialised fitness and movement programmes, and private chauffeur service in the Regents Garden Club Alphard limousine

These aged care lifestyle services are available individually or as bundled packages at a discounted rate. Individual service selection suits residents who want specific enhancements without committing to a full membership tier. The bundled package approach suits residents who want a comprehensive lifestyle upgrade across multiple dimensions. Exploring the quality aged care lifestyle activities available through the programme helps residents and families identify which approach best suits their priorities.

HELF Services vs Standard Inclusions - Understanding the Difference

Families sometimes ask whether HELF services duplicate what is already included in standard aged care fees. They do not. Standard inclusions cover functional daily living - meals, cleaning, laundry, and general entertainment. HELF aged care lifestyle services layer personalisation, quality elevation, and premium experiences on top of these functional foundations.

The distinction is most visible in dining. Standard inclusions provide nutritious, well-prepared meals cooked by professional chefs. HELF dining services add fine wines, barista coffee, bespoke in-room service, High Tea gatherings, and family dining celebrations. The functional need - nutrition - is met through standard inclusions. The lifestyle desire - a genuinely elevated dining experience with personalised beverage service and private dining occasions - is addressed through HELF. The same principle applies across every service category. Standard care provides competent, professional support for all residents. HELF elevates specific dimensions of daily life for residents who choose and value that elevation.

THE REGENTS GARDEN CLUB AS THE HELF DELIVERY MECHANISM

How HELF Is Structured Through the Regents Garden Club

Regents Garden delivers its HELF aged care Perth programme through the Regents Garden Club - a branded lifestyle membership structure organised across three named tiers. Sapphire membership focuses on daily comfort and personalisation. Ruby adds elevated dining, social programming, and specialist wellness. Diamond delivers bespoke luxury services managed by dedicated staff, including private chauffeur transport and companion carer access.

This tiered structure makes HELF services accessible at different levels of investment. Residents are not required to commit to the most comprehensive tier to access any HELF benefit. The quality aged care professional services delivered through the club are coordinated by qualified lifestyle, culinary, and wellness staff who establish individual preferences before any service commences.

The Agreement Process and Resident Protections

Before any HELF charges apply, residents receive a Standing Higher Everyday Living Agreement outlining specific selected services and their associated costs. This document is distinct from the standard Residential Aged Care Agreement. No charges apply until the resident has reviewed and signed it. Residents may choose a full membership tier or select individual services from within a tier. Bundled tier packages are available at a discounted rate compared to individual service selection - making full tier membership financially advantageous for residents who plan to use multiple inclusions regularly.

Provider Flexibility and Long-Term Access

Regents Garden retains the right to amend HELF offerings over time as the programme evolves. Residents are notified of material changes before they take effect. Membership is available from a resident's first day at any participating facility - allowing families who have already assessed which tier suits their loved one to commence the full membership experience immediately upon admission rather than during the adjustment period. Membership can also be adjusted, upgraded, or temporarily reduced as the resident's preferences and health status evolve across the full residential journey.

The Five Facilities and HELF Availability

The Regents Garden Club is available across all five aged care residences in Perth - Bateman, Lake Joondalup, Booragoon, Aubin Grove, and Scarborough. Each facility operates the same three-tier HELF aged care structure, meaning that a resident who transfers from one Regents Garden facility to another can continue their existing membership tier without disruption. This continuity matters for residents and families who may need to move between facilities as care needs change - for example, from a lower-care facility to one with specialist dementia support.

The broad availability of HELF services across the group also means that families choosing between Regents Garden facilities can make that decision based on location, suite type, and community atmosphere rather than being constrained by which facility offers the lifestyle programme they want. Every facility offers the full Regents Garden Club, making it a consistent feature of the Regents Garden residential aged care experience across all Perth locations.

ASSESSING HELF VALUE FOR YOUR LOVED ONE

Matching HELF Services to Lifestyle Priorities

The value of HELF aged care Perth services depends entirely on the individual resident's lifestyle priorities. For a resident who places significant value on fine dining and social connection, Ruby or Diamond membership delivers clear quality-of-life benefits relative to its cost. For a resident whose primary satisfaction comes from comfort, privacy, and quiet routine, Sapphire membership addresses the most meaningful enhancements without the broader scope of higher tiers. Getting this match right is the single most important factor in assessing whether HELF membership is worthwhile for a particular individual.

Families benefit from having honest conversations about what truly matters to their loved one before assessing HELF options. A resident who never drank alcohol will find minimal value in premium wine service. A resident who was socially active until late in life will find the High Tea gatherings and social bus outings at Ruby level highly meaningful. A resident who spent thirty years being driven everywhere by a chauffeur will find Diamond membership's limousine service genuinely resonant rather than superficially indulgent. HELF value is personal - matching inclusions to the individual is the work of a thoughtful family consultation, not a generic cost-benefit calculation.

Questions to Ask When Evaluating HELF Offerings

Families can ask the following questions when comparing aged care premium services and HELF options across Perth facilities:

• Which specific services are included at each membership tier, and are they listed in writing within the Standing Higher Everyday Living Agreement?
• Are services available every day, or on a scheduled basis determined by the provider?
• How are HELF aged care lifestyle services coordinated with the resident's clinical care plan?
• Can individual services be selected without committing to a full membership tier?
• What is the process for adjusting or cancelling HELF services after the agreement is signed?
• Are HELF charges invoiced separately from standard aged care fees, and how frequently are they billed?

Using the Decision-Making Process Effectively

The decision to access HELF services is best made after a facility tour, a conversation with care specialists, and a review of the resident's individual lifestyle history. Care specialists at each Regents Garden facility can walk families through available HELF options, explain the agreement process, and help match specific services to individual preferences - without applying pressure to commit to any particular tier. The selecting residential aged care guidance available through the provider is a practical starting point for families working through this process before visiting a facility.

Independent Financial Advice

For families managing complex financial circumstances alongside aged care decisions, independent financial advice can clarify how HELF membership costs sit relative to the overall aged care cost structure. HELF charges are separate from accommodation payments, the Basic Daily Fee, Hotelling Contribution, and NCCC - making it possible to budget for membership independently without affecting other funding arrangements. An aged care financial adviser can help families model the total cost of residential care across different room type and membership combinations, enabling genuinely informed decisions rather than guesses made under time pressure.

UNDERSTANDING HELF IN THE CONTEXT OF TOTAL AGED CARE COSTS

Seeing the Full Financial Picture

The Higher Everyday Living Fee sits within a layered aged care fee structure that families need to understand in full before making residential care decisions. Clinical care remains government funded. The Basic Daily Fee, Hotelling Contribution, and Non-Clinical Care Contribution cover standard daily living and non-clinical support. Accommodation payments cover the physical suite through the RAD or DAP mechanism. HELF adds a voluntary premium aged care services layer on top of all of these - entirely optional, entirely governed by a signed agreement, and entirely separate from the costs that fund clinical and standard care.

Understanding each layer clearly - what it covers, who pays for it, and how much it costs - gives families the complete financial picture needed for confident decision-making. Families who plan across all four fee categories simultaneously are better positioned to make room type and membership choices that feel considered rather than reactive. Reviewing aged care costs and payment options at the outset of the facility selection process is the most practical way to establish this full picture.

Contacting the Care Team

Families researching aged care costs benefit from personalised guidance delivered by care specialists who understand both the financial framework and the quality of life dimensions that make residential aged care decisions so meaningful. Regents Garden operates across Bateman, Lake Joondalup, Booragoon, Aubin Grove, and Scarborough. Contact care specialists at (08) 6117 8178 to discuss HELF aged care Perth options, review transparent aged care fee structure information, and arrange personalised facility tours across all five Perth locations.