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When people hear the words “aged care”, many immediately picture a nursing home.

In reality, much of Australia’s aged care support is delivered in people’s own homes.

For most older Australians, the goal is simple: stay living independently at home for as long as possible. Home-based aged care services exist to make that realistic — helping with the everyday things that have become harder, without taking away a person’s independence in the process.

If you’re exploring options for yourself or a loved one, here’s a straightforward look at some of the most common services on offer, and how they’re funded.

What Is Support at Home?

Many older Australians receive government-funded help at home through the Support at Home program. It replaced Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care on 1 November 2025, and is designed to help people with ongoing or more complex needs remain living at home for longer.

Entry-level help is also still available through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP), which continues to operate separately and is not due to transition to Support at Home before 1 July 2027. The right pathway will depend on a person’s needs and assessment outcome.

Support at Home can cover everything from personal care and nursing to domestic assistance and transport.

Support is arranged through My Aged Care, following an assessment of a person’s care needs. You can read more about that process in our guide to aged care assessments.

For Support at Home participants, services sit within three contribution categories. In simple terms, these categories affect whether — and how much — a person may need to contribute towards a service.

• Clinical supports — such as nursing and physiotherapy — are fully government-funded, with no participant contribution.
• Independence services — including personal care and transport — may currently attract a means-tested contribution.
• Everyday living services — such as domestic assistance and gardening — can attract the highest contribution rates, based on income and assets.

How much someone pays depends on the type and amount of service they receive, their income and assets, and when they were approved for services. People who were receiving or approved for a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024 may have protected “no worse off” contribution arrangements, so their contribution may differ from standard Support at Home rates.

Personal Care Services

Personal care is one of the most commonly accessed services, and it’s easy to see why.

As tasks that once felt simple become physically harder or more tiring, personal care support steps in to help while preserving dignity and comfort — not replacing it.

This typically includes support with:

• Showering and bathing
• Dressing and grooming
• Personal hygiene
• Toileting and non-clinical continence support
• Moving safely around the home

Personal care should be delivered respectfully, with the aim of helping someone stay as independent as possible while receiving the support they genuinely need.

One change worth knowing about: from 1 October 2026, personal care services will move from the Independence contribution category to Clinical Supports for contribution purposes. In practical terms, approved personal care services will be fully government-funded, so participants with this service in their support plan and available funding will not pay a contribution for it.

Domestic Assistance

Household chores can become a real challenge with reduced mobility, illness or simply less strength than before.

Domestic assistance helps keep a home clean, safe and manageable, and can include:

• Vacuuming and mopping
• Bathroom and kitchen cleaning
• Laundry and ironing
• Changing bed linen
• Shopping assistance

Meal preparation and meal delivery can also be available as separate approved services, depending on the person’s support plan.

These might sound like small tasks, but they add up. Falling behind on them can genuinely affect someone’s wellbeing and their ability to keep living at home safely. Domestic assistance sits under the Everyday Living category, which means it usually involves a contribution based on income and assets — generally the highest of the three categories.

Transport Services

Staying connected to the community matters just as much for wellbeing as physical care does.

For a lot of older Australians, driving is no longer an option, or getting around independently has simply become harder. Transport support helps bridge that gap, covering things like:

• Medical appointments
• Shopping trips
• Social activities and community events
• Visits with family and friends

Depending on the arrangement, transport might be provided by a support worker, a community transport service, or another approved option. The point isn’t just getting from A to B — it’s staying active, connected and part of a community.

Other Services Available at Home

Beyond personal care, domestic assistance and transport, Support at Home can fund a broader range of services depending on individual needs, including:

• Basic home maintenance and minor safety-related repairs
• Social support and companionship
• Physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other allied health services

Not everyone needs the same mix of support. Services are tailored to individual circumstances, goals and what’s identified during the assessment process.

How Often Are Services Provided?

There’s no single answer here — it depends entirely on the person.

Some people need just a few hours of support a week. Others need help most days. How much support is provided comes down to things like health conditions, mobility, living arrangements, existing support from family, and overall level of independence.

For ongoing Support at Home services, funding is allocated in quarterly budgets. Your provider can work with you to change the mix of approved services within that budget. If your needs change significantly, a review of your care plan or a reassessment may be needed to access different services or a higher budget.

Can You Choose Your Provider?

In most cases, yes.

Older Australians can choose the Support at Home provider they feel is the best fit for their needs, preferences and routines. Under Support at Home, your services are coordinated through one chosen provider — though that provider can arrange for another organisation to deliver a particular service if needed.

You can also change providers later if your needs or preferences change. Having that choice matters — it means services can fit around a person’s routines and lifestyle, rather than the other way around.

What Isn’t Covered?

Aged care funding is there to support assessed care needs — not to cover everyday living costs.

Generally, this means it won’t cover:

• Rent or mortgage payments
• Utility bills
• Groceries and everyday living expenses
• Costs that aren’t linked to an assessed care need

The line isn’t always obvious. Replacing carpet due to ordinary wear and tear would not generally be funded. However, an essential repair may be included where there is an imminent age-related safety risk, such as uneven flooring that creates a falls risk or carpet damaged by a wheelchair. If you’re unsure, ask your provider and have the decision documented in your care plan.

Final Thoughts

Home-based aged care services can make a genuine difference to everyday life.

Whether it’s help with personal care, a hand around the house, or a lift to an appointment, these services exist to help older Australians stay independent and connected to their communities for as long as possible.

Often, it’s the smaller, ongoing supports that have the biggest impact — helping people stay in the home they know, doing the things that matter to them, with just enough help to make that possible.

If you’re not sure what kind of support might suit your situation, the team at JNJ Community is here to help you understand your options.

References

• My Aged Care – Help at Home
• Australian Government – Support at Home Program 
• Australian Government – Services under Support at Home
• My Aged Care – Support at Home Costs and Contributions
• Australian Government – Personal Care Contribution Change (from October 2026)
• My Aged Care – Connecting with Support at Home Providers

Disclaimer

This article is provided for general information only and should not be considered legal, financial, medical or aged care advice. Available services, eligibility requirements and government programs may change over time. Please refer to official government resources or seek professional advice regarding your individual circumstances.