In-Home Aged Care in Australia: Practical Support for Everyday Living

Editorially reviewed by: A to Zen Therapies Editorial Team in accordance with our Editorial Policy.

In-home aged care can provide practical assistance while helping an older person maintain familiar routines.

As everyday activities become more difficult, the right support can make it safer and easier to remain at home. In-home aged care may help with personal care, transport, meals, household tasks, nursing, allied health and social connection.

The goal is not simply to complete tasks for someone. Good care should support the older person’s independence, preferences, safety and connection with their community.

Australia’s aged-care system changed substantially in November 2025. Understanding the current programs, costs and consumer safeguards can help older people and their families make more informed decisions.

Quick Answer ⭐

In-home aged care provides assessed support in an older person’s home. Depending on eligibility and needs, assistance may be funded through Support at Home, the

Commonwealth Home Support Programme or private arrangements. Available services can include personal care, domestic assistance, transport, nursing, allied health, meals, assistive technology and home modifications.

What does in-home aged care mean?

In-home aged care means receiving practical, personal or clinical support without moving permanently into residential care. Services should be organised around the individual’s assessed needs, goals, routines and choices.

Key Takeaways

• Support at Home replaced the Home Care Packages Program and Short-Term Restorative Care Programme on 1 November 2025.

• The Commonwealth Home Support Programme remains separate and is expected to transition no earlier than 1 July 2027.

• Support at Home services fall into three broad categories: clinical supports, independence and everyday living.

• Clinical services are government-funded, while contributions may apply to other services according to the service and the person’s financial circumstances.

• Older people have rights concerning choice, dignity, privacy, safety, communication and raising concerns.

• Provider prices, staffing arrangements and service availability should be compared before signing an agreement.

• Remaining at home is not always the safest option when needs become complex or continuous.

Table of Contents

1. How Australia’s In-Home Aged-Care System Works

2. Services Available Through Support at Home

3. Everyday Assistance and Independent Living

4. Dementia and Changing Care Needs

5. Palliative and End-of-Life Support at Home

6. Accessing In-Home Aged Care

7. In-Home Care Compared With Residential Aged

8. Choosing a Reliable In-Home Aged-Care Provider

9. Rights, Safety and Complaints

10. Frequently Asked Questions

How Australia’s In-Home Aged-Care System Works

The Australian Government’s Support at Home program began on 1 November 2025. It replaced the former Home Care Packages Program and Short-Term Restorative Care Programme.

The Commonwealth Home Support Programme, commonly called CHSP, continues to provide entry-level support separately. Its transition to Support at Home is scheduled for no earlier than 1 July 2027.

Private care is another option. A person can pay directly for services when they are not eligible for government funding, want support while waiting for an assessment or need services beyond their approved plan.

People comparing providers can review Five Good Friends’ approach to In-home aged care. Features such as Helper matching, monitoring tools and management options are provider-specific, so availability, fees and regional coverage should be confirmed directly.

Services Available Through Support at Home

The government’s official Support at Home service list places services into three categories.

Clinical supports

These services address health-related needs and may include:

• Nursing care

• Physiotherapy and other allied health services

• Nutrition and dietetic support

• Podiatry

• Continence management

• Occupational therapy

• Care management when clinically required

Clinical support services are fully funded by the Australian Government under current contribution rules.

Independence services

These services help an older person manage daily activities and stay connected. They may include:

• Personal care

• Assistance with medication routines

• Transport

• Social support and community engagement

• Respite care

• Therapeutic services that support independence

• Assistive technology and home modifications

Everyday living services

Everyday living support may include:

• Domestic assistance

• Cleaning

• Laundry

• Meal preparation or delivery

• Gardening

• Home maintenance and minor repairs

An assessment does not automatically approve every service on these lists. The person’s Notice of Decision and support plan identify what has been approved.

📊 Evidence Snapshot

Current provision	What it means
Support at Home commenced on 1 November 2025	It replaced Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care
CHSP continues separately	Its transition will occur no earlier than 1 July 2027
Three service categories	Clinical supports, independence and everyday living
No contribution for clinical supports	The government funds approved clinical services
Provider prices differ	Registered providers must publish their service prices
Rights-based legislation	Providers must act consistently with the Statement of Rights

Everyday Assistance and Independent Living

A need for care often becomes noticeable through small changes. Meals may be missed, transport becomes difficult, laundry accumulates or the person starts avoiding activities because they are worried about falling.

A tailored care plan may provide support with:

• Showering, dressing and grooming

• Preparing meals and maintaining hydration

• Shopping and collecting prescriptions

• Cleaning and laundry

• Travelling to appointments

• Participating in community activities

• Completing basic paperwork

• Using mobility or safety equipment

The appropriate level of assistance should preserve the person’s abilities wherever possible. Automatically taking over every task may reduce confidence and independence.

Families may also find it useful to review practical strategies for preventing pressure sores in people with limited mobility.

💡 Expert Tip: Before an assessment, keep a one-week record of tasks that are difficult, unsafe or being missed. Include falls, medication concerns, fatigue, memory changes and the amount of help currently provided by family members. Concrete examples can help the assessor understand the person’s actual daily needs.

Effective home care should support participation and independence rather than unnecessarily taking over everyday activities.

Dementia and Changing Care Needs

Familiar surroundings and predictable routines may help some people living with dementia feel more secure. Home-based support can include:

• Regular workers who learn the person’s preferences

• Personal care and meal assistance

• Medication prompts

• Meaningful activities and companionship

• Respite for family carers

• Monitoring and care-plan reviews

• Occupational therapy and home-safety recommendations

However, home is not automatically the safest setting for every person with dementia. Wandering, falls, unsafe cooking, medication errors, distress or the need for continuous supervision may require additional support or consideration of residential care.

Families should request a reassessment when risks or needs change rather than trying to manage an unsuitable plan indefinitely.

Palliative and End-of-Life Support at Home

Support at Home includes an End-of-Life Pathway for eligible participants who have been assessed as requiring additional short-term assistance. Access is based on defined clinical and program requirements.

Services may involve:

• Nursing and personal care

• Equipment or assistive technology

• Care coordination

• Domestic support

• Assistance for family carers

This pathway does not replace specialist palliative care, a GP or emergency medical services. Depending on the person’s condition and location, aged-care providers may need to coordinate with community nursing, specialist palliative-care teams, hospitals and primary-care professionals.

The Australian Government’s End-of-Life Pathway guidance provides current eligibility and access information.

Accessing In-Home Aged Care

Government-funded aged care generally begins through My Aged Care.

The current process usually involves:

1. Checking eligibility online or contacting My Aged Care.

2. Applying for an aged-care assessment.

3. Participating in an assessment through the Single Assessment System.

4. Receiving a Notice of Decision and support plan.

5. Waiting for approved funding to become available, where applicable.

6. Comparing registered providers.

7. Agreeing on services, prices and responsibilities in a service agreement.

8. Reviewing the plan when circumstances change.

A family member, carer, GP or hospital professional may help make a referral, but the older person should remain involved in decisions to the greatest extent possible.

Funding, Budgets and Participant Contributions

There is no single price for in-home aged care. Costs depend on:

• The program being used

• Approved services

• The provider’s published prices

• The person’s income and assets

• The number and timing of services

• Whether services are delivered directly or subcontracted

• Private services purchased outside the funded plan

Under Support at Home, participants do not contribute towards approved clinical support services. Contributions may apply to independence and everyday living services, based on the type of service and the person’s financial circumstances.

Providers must publish their prices online. My Aged Care also offers information about Support at Home costs and contributions, including a fee estimator.

Before signing, ask for a written explanation of:

• Hourly or unit prices

• Care-management charges

• Cancellation fees

• Weekend and public-holiday rates

• Travel charges

• Subcontracting arrangements

• How price changes will be communicated

• What happens to unused funds

• Costs not covered by the approved budget

Long-term care can affect a household’s wider finances. Caregivers may benefit from considering financial planning alongside long-term care decisions.

In-Home Care Compared With Residential Aged

Care

The main difference is where care and accommodation are provided. Neither option is automatically better; suitability depends on the person’s needs, preferences, home environment and available support.

Feature	In-home aged care	Residential aged care
Living arrangement	The person remains at home	The person moves into an aged-care home
Support availability	Scheduled according to the plan	Staff and assistance are available on site
Environment	Familiar home and community	Purpose-designed communal environment
Flexibility	Services can be arranged around assessed goals	Care is coordinated within the home’s routines and resources
Social contact	Depends on visitors, workers and community participation	Opportunities for organised activities and resident interaction
Clinical needs	Suitable when needs can be managed safely at home	May be more appropriate for complex or continuous needs
Accommodation costs	Home expenses continue	Residential accommodation and care fees may apply

A reassessment should be considered when:

• Falls or injuries become frequent

• The person needs overnight or continuous supervision

• Medication cannot be managed safely

• The home cannot be modified adequately

• Family carers are becoming exhausted

• Clinical needs exceed the available home-based support

Choosing a Reliable In-Home Aged-Care Provider

A suitable provider should offer more than an available appointment slot. It should demonstrate respectful care, transparent pricing, reliable communication and the ability to respond when needs change.

Ask the following questions:

• Are you registered to provide my approved services?

• Can I regularly receive support from the same workers?

• How are workers screened, trained and supervised?

• Can I choose or change a worker?

• Who is responsible for reviewing my care plan?

• What happens if my regular worker is unavailable?

• Which services do you subcontract?

• How quickly can you respond to changing needs?

• How are incidents, missed visits and complaints handled?

• Can my family or nominated supporter access updates with my permission?

• What fees will be deducted from my budget?

• How do you protect personal and health information?

Five Good Friends states that it offers Helper matching, care monitoring and digital communication. Anyone considering these features should ask how they work locally, whether they cost extra and what alternatives are available for people who do not use an app.

Rights, Safety and Complaints

The Aged Care Act 2024 introduced a Statement of Rights. Among other protections, older people receiving funded aged care have rights relating to:

• Independence and freedom of choice

• Safe, quality care

• Privacy and access to information

• Person-centred communication

• Social connections and chosen supporters

• Raising concerns without fear of reprisal

• Access to independent advocacy

If a concern arises, it can usually be raised first with the provider. Keep records of dates, missed services, correspondence and the outcome requested.

If the matter is unresolved, a person can make a complaint to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. Complaints can also be made confidentially or anonymously.

The Older Persons Advocacy Network provides free, independent and confidential assistance to people seeking or receiving government-funded aged care.

For further information on speaking up in care settings, see A to Zen Therapies’ guide to advocating for senior-care patient rights.

Frequently Asked Questions

What replaced Home Care Packages in Australia?

The Support at Home program replaced the Home Care Packages Program and Short-Term Restorative Care Programme on 1 November 2025. CHSP currently continues as a separate entry-level program.

Can I receive nursing care at home?

Yes, approved Support at Home services can include nursing and other clinical support. Access depends on the person’s assessment and support plan.

Does the government pay for all home care?

Not necessarily. Approved clinical supports are fully government-funded under Support at Home, but contributions may apply to independence and everyday living services. Private services must generally be paid for separately.

Can I choose my care provider?

Approved participants can compare registered providers that operate in their area and deliver the required services. Provider prices, staffing arrangements and availability can differ.

Can I change providers?

It may be possible to change providers. Review the existing service agreement for notice periods, outstanding charges and transfer arrangements, then contact My Aged Care or the prospective provider for assistance.

Is in-home care suitable for someone with dementia?

It may be suitable when the person’s needs and risks can be managed safely at home. A reassessment is important if wandering, falls, medication errors, distress or continuous supervision become concerns.

What should I do if care is unsafe?

Raise urgent concerns with the provider and document what occurred. Contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission if the issue is not resolved. Call 000 when someone is in immediate danger or requires emergency assistance.

Conclusion

In-home aged care can help older Australians remain safe, independent and connected while continuing to live in familiar surroundings. The right arrangement may combine personal care, household assistance, transport, clinical services, assistive technology and social support.

Start with a current assessment, review exactly what has been approved and compare registered providers carefully. Prices, workforce consistency, communication and safeguards matter just as much as the list of available services.

Most importantly, the older person’s preferences, dignity and right to make decisions should remain at the centre of every care discussion.

References

1. Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing — About Support at Home

2. Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing — Services under Support at Home

3. My Aged Care — Support at Home

4. My Aged Care — Connecting with Support at Home providers

5. My Aged Care — Support at Home costs and contributions

6. Australian Government — End-of-Life Pathway

7. Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission — Statement of Rights

8. Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission — Make a complaint

9. Older Persons Advocacy Network

This article provides general information only. Aged-care eligibility, fees, service availability and clinical suitability depend on individual circumstances and may change. Confirm current arrangements with My Aged Care, the relevant provider and qualified health professionals.

Explore more practical guidance on independence, caregiving and later-life wellbeing in the A to Zen Therapies Senior Wellness Hub.