My elderly mum has to pay $5.50 a day for a TV. This seems outrageous

September 2, 2026 — 3:00am

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My mum recently entered aged care and has now been there for four weeks. We opted out of the Higher Everyday Living Fee (HELF). There was already a television in her room but I have now been asked whether we want to pay $5.50 a day for the television service. That’s more than $2000 a year.

I asked whether we could provide Mum with her own television but was told we would still have to pay the fee. When I questioned this, I was told bringing in our own television would require approval and might be refused. In other words, unless we pay $5.50 a day, Mum may have no television in her room.

This seems outrageous. Is the provider entitled to charge this fee for a television?

HELF can only be charged for services above the standard required under the Residential Aged Care Service List, or for additional services the provider is not already required to supply.

However, because your mother entered aged care after November 1, 2025, the provider can charge a HELF for an additional service such as an in-room television. This applies even if existing residents receive the same service free. Government guidance specifically gives the example of a new resident being charged a HELF for an in-room television because it is additional to the services the provider must supply.

The real issue is whether the provider can insist on $5.50 a day even if you supply your own television. I would ask them to explain in writing exactly what the fee is paying for, why it would still apply to your own television, and on what basis they could refuse permission for your mother to have one.

The real issue is whether the provider can insist on $5.50 a day even if you supply........

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