Aged care homes in Forster, NSW
3 aged care homes in Forster, from the Australian Government service list, with official Star Ratings where published.
BaptistCare Kularoo Centre
Estia Health Forster
Pacific Cape
Aged care homes within 20 km of Forster
Estia Health Tuncurry
Glaica House
What the official data says about aged care in Forster
Forster has 3 aged care homes, holding 348 funded places between them. Widening the search to 20 km brings the total to 5, which is the realistic pool most families choose from. The average home here holds about 116 residents, so these are larger facilities where staffing levels matter a great deal.
Across the 3 rated homes in Forster, the average overall Star Rating is 3.67 out of 5. That is below the state average for New South Wales of 3.89 by 0.22 of a star, against a national average of 3.83.
The spread matters more than the average. The highest rated is BaptistCare Kularoo Centre at 4 stars, and the lowest is Pacific Cape at 3. Two homes a few streets apart can be genuinely different places to live, which is exactly why a shortlist beats a postcode search.
What residents in Forster say
Averaged across the 3 homes in Forster whose residents were interviewed by the government. This is the local picture behind the star ratings. Residents here are most positive about feels safe (96% said always) and least positive about likes the food (29%).
| Residents said “always” to | Forster | National |
|---|---|---|
| Treated with respect | 85% | 68% |
| Staff are kind and caring | 84% | 69% |
| Feels safe | 96% | 78% |
| Gets the care needed | 77% | 65% |
| Staff know what they are doing | 50% | 44% |
| Feels like home | 88% | 64% |
| Things are explained | 59% | 46% |
| Concerns followed up | 63% | 48% |
| Has a say | 84% | 72% |
| Encouraged to be independent | 65% | 60% |
| Well run | 43% | 46% |
| Likes the food | 29% | 28% |
How Forster homes score on each measure
An overall rating is built from four separate measures. Averages for the homes here, next to the national average, so you can see where this area is genuinely strong and where to ask harder questions.
| Measure | Forster | National | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents' experience | 4 | 3.63 | how residents themselves rated life in the home, collected in face-to-face interviews. It is the closest thing to asking the people who live there. |
| Compliance | 4.67 | 4.82 | whether the home has met its regulatory obligations. Almost every home scores well here, so a low score is a genuine warning sign rather than a small ding. |
| Staffing | 2.33 | 3.25 | how much registered nurse and total care time each resident actually receives against the government's targets. |
| Quality measures | 3.67 | 3.04 | clinical outcomes the home reports, such as pressure injuries, falls, medication management and unplanned weight loss. |
Source: Australian Government Star Ratings, May 2026 extract. How to read these ratings properly.
Who runs the homes in Forster
Many services belong to a larger group. Knowing the operator is useful, because standards, pricing structures and culture often travel across a group.
BaptistCare (1 service here)Estia Health (1 service here)Great Lakes Aged & Invalid Care Association Ltd (1 service here)
What it costs to move into a home near Forster
Fees are set nationally, not by suburb, so the structure is the same in Forster as anywhere in Australia: a basic daily fee of $66.80 a day (as at 20 March 2026) that everyone pays, a means-tested care fee based on your income and assets, and an accommodation payment set by each individual home. That last one is where Forster homes will differ from each other, and it is the number to ask for in writing. Non-clinical contributions are capped over a lifetime at $137,917.01.
Estimate a room deposit or daily payment · The full cost guide
Want options matched to your family, not a directory?
Tell us what your family needs and we will narrow this list to the options that actually fit: care needs, budget, availability and distance. Free, online, no pressure.
Get care options for ForsterNearby areas
Tuncurry (2, 4 km)Old Bar (1, 26 km)Cundletown (2, 33 km)Taree (4, 33 km)Wingham (1, 39 km)Gloucester (1, 56 km)Stroud (1, 57 km)Hawks Nest (1, 62 km)Tea Gardens (1, 62 km)Laurieton (2, 67 km)
Common questions about aged care in Forster
How many aged care homes are there in Forster?
3 aged care homes are based in Forster on the current national service list, with 348 funded places between them. Widening to 20 km gives 5 options in total.
What is the average Star Rating of aged care homes in Forster?
The 3 rated homes average 3.67 out of 5, compared with 3.89 across New South Wales and 3.83 nationally. Ratings are published by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, not by CareShortlist, and the spread between individual homes matters far more than the local average.
How much does an aged care home in Forster cost?
There is no single figure. Everyone pays a basic daily fee of $66.80 a day (as at 20 March 2026). On top of that sits a means-tested care fee set by your income and assets, and an accommodation payment that each home sets individually, paid as a refundable lump sum, a daily payment, or a mix. Lifetime contributions are capped at $137,917.01.
Do I have to choose a home in Forster itself?
No. You can enter any home in Australia that has a place available and accepts your assessment. Families often look a few suburbs wider to find the right fit, which is why we show everything within 20 km of Forster as well.
What is the first step to arranging care in Forster?
An assessment through My Aged Care (myagedcare.gov.au or 1800 200 422). Nothing is government funded until that assessment is done, and the queue moves slowly, so applying early is the single most useful thing you can do. You can shortlist homes while you wait.