As we get older, a little extra help can make a big difference. Support at Home is designed to provide just that. The program offers older people personalised care to help them stay independent and comfortable in their own home for longer.
Funded by the Australian Government, Support at Home provides access to a wide range of services that support health and wellbeing, from cleaning and gardening to nursing and allied health. These supports are grouped into 3 categories — everyday living, independence, and clinical care — and are delivered through registered providers such as HomeMade.
What are everyday living supports?
Everyday living supports focus on household tasks that help you keep your home tidy, safe, and comfortable. They’re often thought of as ‘help around the house’ and can make a big difference to your day-to-day routine.
These may include:
- General cleaning, such as vacuuming, mopping, laundry, and ironing.
- Shopping support, either by accompanying you to the shops or completing errands on your behalf.
- Meal delivery and help with preparing and cooking meals at home.
- Light gardening, like lawn mowing, pruning, and weeding.
- Minor home repairs and maintenance, for example, replacing lightbulbs, checking smoke alarms or cleaning gutters.
What are independence supports?
Independence support is the broadest category under Support at Home. It covers a range of services designed to help you stay independent, connected, and confident in your community.
These may include:
- Personal care, such as assistance with showering, dressing, mobility, or supervising medications.
- Social connection, including joining community activities, maintaining hobbies, cultural support and staying connected online.
- Therapeutic services such as acupuncture, remedial massage, osteopathy, and art therapy.
- Transport services for appointments, shopping, or social outings, using drivers, taxis, or rideshare vouchers.
- Assistive technology and home modifications, like mobility aids, grab rails, or ramps, supplied through the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications Scheme (AT-HM).
- Respite care for primary carers or family members who support you day to day.
What are clinical supports?
Clinical supports include specialised healthcare provided by qualified professionals. These services help maintain or improve your physical, cognitive, and mental health while managing clinical conditions.
Examples include:
- Nursing care, including medication management, wound care, health monitoring, and chronic condition support.
- Allied health services, such as physiotherapy, podiatry, speech pathology, exercise physiology, psychology, dietetics, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health support.
- Prescribed nutrition, including dietary supplements and equipment to assist with eating or digestion.
- Care management, which covers care planning, coordination, and reviews to ensure your support continues to meet your needs. This is built into a provider’s fee structure and is automatically taken from your funds by the Government.
Your provider will make sure all clinical services are delivered by university-qualified or accredited professionals.
For an outline of all eligible services, visit the Support at Home Service List. To learn more about the Support at Home program in general, visit My Aged Care.
How can HomeMade help me get the most out of my funding?
With the right provider, Support at Home funding can unlock the perfect mix of services to match your lifestyle. HomeMade makes this easy. We help you understand your budget, create a personalised care plan, and stay on top of your aged care funding.
We also know that health needs change; that’s why our support partners team check in regularly to review your care plan. You’ll always know where your funds are going, and what support is available next.
HomeMade connects you with more than 3,000 qualified service providers across Australia. More options mean you get more control over the team that supports you.
With HomeMade, you also get to choose how hands-on you’d like to be with your support:
- Self Managed: Take charge of organising and managing your support services with confidence, using tools and guidance from HomeMade’s expert team.
- Fully Managed: Get the freedom of accessing affordable, quality care your way, but let us handle scheduling, bookings, and coordination.
A simpler, more flexible way to stay independent
The Support at Home program is a step toward more personalised and accessible aged care. With an emphasis on transparency and the rights of older people, the goal is for all participants to have the right support for their needs.
At HomeMade, we’re here not only to get you the support you need, but also to give you a say on the support you receive. This means you get to build a care routine from service providers who fit your lifestyle and needs, with the freedom to adjust your schedule when required.
Ready to explore your options?
Talk to our friendly team to find out more about our affordable, flexible and quality in-home aged care. We can help you explore available services or get started on a tailored care plan.
