Seeking to be “the complete Australian guide” to aged care homes is a difficult undertaking in the rapidly changing area of aged care. Although this book does not quite live up to its title, some may find it a useful introduction to the process of accessing residential care for older family members.

The book is divided into two sections. Part 1: “Step by Step” discusses the potential journey of “Mum”, a largely passive and voiceless character and the intended recipient of residential aged care. This section of the book provides basic information to assist with planning a move into residential care, including information on preparation for the move, financial planning strategies, placement options and other practical issues. (Much of this information is also available from Five steps to entry into residential aged care, available free online at <http://www.health.gov.au> or from local aged care assessment teams [ACATs] around Australia.)

The resource section forming Part 2 provides the reader with a comprehensive listing of residential aged care facilities (RACFs) and ACATs around Australia. Without the provision of contact numbers for the RACFs, the reader may need to seek phone numbers and further information from other sources, such as the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing website <http://www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au> or the DPS guide to aged care.

Families wanting information to assist them with the process of placing an older person into an RACF have many resources available to them. Although this book is one source of information, it should be noted that it contains some figures and information that have become outdated since publication. Readers need to take note of the authors’ disclaimer regarding the accuracy of information provided in the book and, in particular, verify the financial figures used.