Support at Home replaced the former Home Care Packages (HCP) Program and Short-Term Restorative Care Programme on 1 November 2025.

At EL Care, we understand that changes to aged care can sometimes feel complicated. Our aim is to make the process easier to understand and help you get the most from the support available to you.

What is Support at Home?

Support at Home is the Australian Government’s program for providing aged care services to eligible older people in their own homes.

The program is designed around a simple principle: helping people remain independent, safe and connected while continuing to live at home for as long as possible.

Depending on your assessed needs, Support at Home can help with services such as:

• Nursing and clinical care

• Personal care and assistance with daily activities

• Domestic assistance

• Transport and community access

• Social support

• Respite care

• Allied health and therapeutic services

• Home maintenance and repairs

• Assistive technology and equipment

• Home modifications

The services you can access will depend on your individual assessment and Support Plan.

How do I access Support at Home?

The first step is generally to contact My Aged Care and arrange an aged care assessment.

The assessment looks at your individual circumstances, including what you can currently manage independently, where you may need some assistance, and what services could help you remain safe and independent at home.

Following your assessment, you will receive a Notice of Decision explaining the services and funding you have been approved to receive.

Once funding becomes available, you can choose a registered provider to work with you to organise and deliver your care and services.

How does the funding work?

One of the biggest changes under Support at Home is the way funding is structured.

For ongoing services, there are eight funding classifications. Your classification is determined through your aged care assessment and reflects the level of support you have been assessed as needing.

Rather than receiving an annual package to manage, ongoing Support at Home funding is generally allocated in quarterly budgets.

Your provider works with you to develop an individualised budget and plan how your available funding will be used to meet your assessed needs.

If you don’t use all of your quarterly funding, you can generally carry over up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget, whichever is greater, into the next quarter.

People who transitioned from an existing Home Care Package into Support at Home have separate transitional arrangements, including provisions relating to previously unspent Home Care Package funds.

What types of services are available?

Support at Home broadly groups services into three categories.

Clinical Supports

These are services that support your health and clinical needs and can include nursing, physiotherapy and other clinical or therapeutic supports.

Clinical Supports are fully funded by the Australian Government, meaning participants do not pay a contribution towards approved clinical services.

Independence

These services are designed to help you safely manage everyday activities and maintain your independence. They can include services such as personal care, transport, respite and social support.

An important upcoming change is that from 1 October 2026, approved personal care services will be fully funded by the Australian Government, meaning participants will no longer be required to make a contribution towards personal care services where they have the service approved in their Support Plan and sufficient Support at Home funding available.

Everyday Living

Everyday Living services help with activities involved in maintaining your home and day-to-day life. These can include domestic assistance, cleaning, gardening and home maintenance.

Participants may be required to contribute towards the cost of these services.

Will I have to pay towards my care?

This depends on the type of service you receive and your individual financial circumstances.

Under Support at Home, the Australian Government fully funds approved Clinical Supports.

For other services, participants may be asked to make a contribution towards the cost. The amount you contribute is determined according to government rules and can depend on your income and assets as well as the type of service being provided.

This means two people receiving different types of services may have different contribution arrangements.

Your provider should explain the prices of your services and any contributions you are expected to pay before services are delivered.

What about equipment and home modifications?

Support at Home also includes a dedicated Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme.

This is designed to help eligible people access equipment or modifications that can make living at home safer and easier.

Depending on your assessed needs, this could include equipment or modifications that support mobility, safety and independence.

Importantly, this funding is separate from the standard ongoing Support at Home budget, helping people access necessary equipment and modifications without having to save a large portion of their regular care budget.

What is the Restorative Care Pathway?

Support at Home isn’t only about providing ongoing assistance.

The Restorative Care Pathway provides short-term, intensive support designed to help eligible people maintain or regain independence.

For example, someone who has experienced a decline in mobility or function may benefit from a coordinated period of allied health, nursing and other supports aimed at improving their ability to manage everyday activities.

The pathway can provide funding for up to 16 weeks.

Support for people approaching the end of life

Support at Home also includes an End-of-Life Pathway for eligible people who wish to remain at home during the final stages of their life.

This provides additional short-term funding so that appropriate care and support can be provided at home, helping individuals and their families during what can be an incredibly important and difficult time.

What if I already had a Home Care Package?

If you were receiving a Home Care Package when Support at Home commenced, you were transitioned into the new system.

There are specific arrangements in place for people who transitioned from Home Care Packages, including equivalent funding classifications and arrangements for previously unspent Home Care Package funds.

There is also a “no worse off” principle applying to participant contributions for people who were approved for a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024.

If you have transitioned from a Home Care Package and are unsure how the changes affect you, it is worth speaking with your provider about your individual circumstances.

How EL Care can help

Navigating aged care shouldn’t feel overwhelming.

At EL Care, our focus is on understanding the person first — what is important to you, what you want to continue doing independently, where you would like some extra assistance, and how your available support can be used effectively.

We can work with you and your family to understand your Support Plan, coordinate appropriate services and develop a care arrangement that reflects your needs, preferences and goals.

Whether you need a little help around the home, assistance with personal care, nursing and clinical support, social support, transport or a more comprehensive combination of services, our team is here to help.

Want to know more about Support at Home?

If you have received Support at Home funding, are transitioning from a Home Care Package, or are simply trying to understand what support may be available, talk to the EL Care team.

We can help you understand the next steps and discuss how EL Care can support you to continue living safely, confidently and independently at home.

Contact EL Care today to find out more about Support at Home and how we can support you.

Information in this article is general in nature and is current as at August 2026. Support at Home eligibility, funding, participant contributions and available services are determined under Australian Government aged care arrangements and may change over time.

The post Support at Home: What It Is and How It Works first appeared on Evermore Living Care.

Overview of Home Care Services

Home care services in Australia are designed to cater to a wide range of needs, allowing elderly individuals to live independently and safely in their homes while receiving the necessary support and care. These services encompass personal care, household assistance, health management, social engagement, and emotional support. Trained and compassionate care workers, often referred to as support workers or carers, provide assistance in activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs).

Types of Home Care Services

1. Personal Care: Personal care services include assistance with bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and mobility support. Support workers ensure the seniors’ personal hygiene and well-being are maintained.
2. Household Assistance: This category covers domestic chores such as cleaning, laundry, meal preparation, and grocery shopping. These services aim to create a safe and clean living environment for the elderly.
3. Health Management: Trained care workers can help with medication management, wound care, physiotherapy exercises, and other healthcare-related tasks to support seniors’ health and well-being.
4. Social Support: Home care providers also offer companionship and social engagement to combat isolation and loneliness in elderly individuals. Activities may include outings, recreational pursuits, and conversation.
5. Allied Health Services: Some home care packages offer access to allied health professionals like physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and dietitians to address specific health needs.

Eligibility and Assessment

To access home care services, older Australians must undergo an assessment by the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) or the Aged Care Assessment Service (ACAS) in Victoria. These assessment teams evaluate the individual’s care needs, medical conditions, and support requirements to determine their eligibility for home care packages.

Home Care Package Levels

Home care packages are allocated based on the level of care required by the individual. There are four package levels, ranging from Level 1 (basic care needs) to Level 4 (high-level care needs). The level determines the funding amount allocated to the senior, allowing them to choose the services that best suit their needs and preferences.

Funding Options

There are various funding options available for home care services in Australia:

1. Consumer-Directed Care (CDC): Under CDC, seniors have greater control over how their allocated funding is spent. They can choose the specific services they wish to receive and select the providers they prefer.
2. Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP): The CHSP provides entry-level support services for seniors who need some assistance with daily tasks but do not require a full home care package.
3. Home Care Packages (HCP): These packages are designed to provide more comprehensive and personalized support to seniors with higher care needs, ranging from Level 1 to Level 4.
4. Dementia Supplement: For seniors living with dementia, additional funding is available to cater to their specific care requirements.

The Impact of Home Care Services on Seniors

Home care services play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life for elderly Australians. By enabling seniors to remain in their familiar surroundings, surrounded by their community and loved ones, home care fosters a sense of independence and dignity. It alleviates the stress and burden on family members and caregivers, allowing them to focus on their relationships with the senior rather than the hands-on care tasks. Additionally, the social engagement provided by home care workers helps combat isolation and depression, promoting overall mental well-being.

Home care services for the elderly in Australia are a vital and rapidly growing aspect of the aged care system. These services offer a wide array of support options, enabling older Australians to age gracefully and maintain their independence while receiving the assistance they need. With various funding options and a focus on consumer-directed care, the system aims to provide personalized, flexible, and compassionate services that cater to the unique needs and preferences of each senior. As the demand for aged care continues to increase, the home care sector will continue to evolve, striving to meet the changing needs of Australia’s aging population.

The post Home Care Services for the Elderly in Australia: A Comprehensive Overview first appeared on Evermore Living Care.