One of the biggest advantages of the Support at Home program is the wide range of services available to help older Australians continue living safely and independently at home. Depending on your aged care assessment and personalised care plan, you may receive support with daily tasks, healthcare, mobility, and maintaining your home.
While the program covers many essential care services, it's important to understand that it doesn't pay for every household expense or lifestyle cost. The table below provides a quick overview of what's generally included and what isn't.
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Services Covered by Support at Home Package
What Is Included?
Support at Home services are grouped into three main categories, ensuring participants receive support that matches their health needs, daily living requirements, and personal goals.
1. Clinical Care
Clinical Care focuses on maintaining your health and managing medical conditions. These services are fully funded by the Australian Government for eligible participants and are delivered by qualified healthcare professionals.
Services may include:
- Nursing care - Provides clinical support for ongoing health conditions, treatments, and general health monitoring.
- Wound care - Helps treat and manage wounds to promote healing and reduce the risk of infection.
- Medication management - Ensures medications are taken safely and correctly to support your health.
- Physiotherapy - Improves mobility, strength, balance, and physical function.
- Occupational therapy - Helps you perform everyday tasks safely and maintain your independence.
- Speech pathology - Assists with communication difficulties and swallowing disorders.
- Podiatry - Provides professional foot care to improve mobility and prevent foot-related problems.
- Dietetics - Offers nutrition advice to support your health and manage medical conditions.
- Other allied health services - Includes specialised therapies recommended to support your overall wellbeing.
2. Independence Support
Independence Support helps you continue managing everyday activities so you can remain living safely at home. Depending on your income and assets assessment, you may be asked to contribute towards the cost of these services.
Common services include:
- Personal care - Assistance with daily activities such as showering, dressing, grooming, and personal hygiene.
- Meal preparation - Support with planning and preparing nutritious meals to meet your dietary needs.
- Domestic assistance - Help with routine household tasks to keep your home clean and safe.
- Shopping assistance - Assistance with grocery shopping and purchasing essential household items.
- Transport to appointments - Transport to medical appointments, community activities, and other essential destinations.
- Social support and companionship - Encourages social connection and participation in community activities to reduce isolation.
3. Everyday Living Support
Everyday Living Support helps keep your home safe, comfortable, and well maintained. These services are government subsidised, with participant contributions based on your financial circumstances.
- House cleaning - Assistance with general cleaning to maintain a hygienic living environment.
- Laundry - Help with washing, drying, folding, and ironing clothes and household linen.
- Gardening - Basic garden maintenance to help keep outdoor areas safe and tidy.
- Home maintenance - Minor repairs and maintenance to improve safety and accessibility around your home.
4. Additional Support Pathways
In addition to ongoing services, the program also provides dedicated funding pathways for participants with more specialised needs.
These include:
- Assistive Technology and Home Modifications to improve safety and accessibility, such as mobility aids, ramps, grab rails, or bathroom modifications.
- Restorative Care to help you regain independence after an illness, injury, or hospital stay.
- End-of-Life Care for people who choose to receive palliative care and additional support at home during the final stages of life.
What Isn't Included in Support at Home Package?
Support at Home funding is intended to pay for approved aged care services, not everyday living expenses or items unrelated to your assessed care needs. Examples of costs that are generally not covered include:
- Rent or mortgage payments
- Utility bills, such as electricity, gas, water, internet, and phone services
- Groceries and other everyday household expenses
- General home renovations or cosmetic improvements that aren't required for your care or safety
- Luxury household items or appliances
- Personal travel, holidays, and recreational activities
- Medical services already funded through Medicare, the PBS, or other government programs
- Services that aren't included in your personalised care plan
Note: The exact services covered under Support at Home will depend on your aged care assessment, approved care plan, and funding classification. If you're unsure whether a service is covered, speak with your Support at Home provider before arranging it.
How Aged Care Choices Can Assist You?
Finding the right Support at Home provider is just as important as securing funding. Aged Care Choices makes the process easier by helping you compare registered providers across Australia based on your location, care needs, and personal preferences.
Whether you're looking for personal care, nursing services, domestic assistance, or specialised support, Our Care Journey tool is designed to guide you step-by-step through understanding your options, applying for packages, and choosing the right care providers. It’s the easiest way to make sure you maximise your Home Care Package funds and get the care you or your loved one deserves.
Conclusion
The Support at Home program is transforming the way older Australians access in-home aged care by providing more personalised, flexible, and needs-based support. From personal care and clinical services to household assistance and home modifications, the program is designed to help you maintain your independence and quality of life.
If you think you or a loved one may be eligible, the first step is to register with My Aged Care and complete an aged care assessment. Once approved, choosing the right provider is essential to making the most of your funding.
With Aged Care Choices, you can compare trusted Support at Home providers, explore your options, and find the right care to help you continue living safely and confidently at home.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What services are included under the Support at Home program?
The Support at Home program funds a wide range of services to help older Australians live safely and independently at home. These include Clinical Care (such as nursing and allied health), Independence Support (such as personal care, meal preparation, and transport), and Everyday Living Support (such as cleaning, laundry, gardening, and basic home maintenance). Additional funding pathways are also available for Assistive Technology and Home Modifications, Restorative Care, and End-of-Life Care.
2. Is Clinical Care fully funded under Support at Home?
Yes. Eligible participants receive 100% government funding for Clinical Care services, including nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, wound care, medication management, and other approved allied health services.
3. Do I have to pay for Support at Home services?
Participant contributions may apply to Independence Support and Everyday Living Support services, depending on your income and assets assessment. Clinical Care services are fully funded by the Australian Government for eligible participants.
4. Does Support at Home cover home cleaning and gardening?
Yes. Basic house cleaning, laundry, gardening, and minor home maintenance are available under the Everyday Living Support category, provided these services are included in your personalised care plan.
5. Does Support at Home pay for groceries or household bills?
No. Support at Home funding cannot be used for everyday living expenses such as groceries, rent or mortgage payments, electricity, gas, water, internet, or phone bills. These costs remain the participant's responsibility.
6. Can Support at Home fund home modifications?
Yes. Eligible participants may receive funding for approved Assistive Technology and Home Modifications, including items such as mobility aids, ramps, grab rails, bathroom modifications, and other equipment that improves safety and independence at home.
7. Are medical services covered under Support at Home?
Support at Home funds approved Clinical Care services delivered as part of your care plan. However, medical services that are already funded through Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), or other government programs are generally not covered.
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