When families first start looking into home care, the most common question is simply: "What does it actually include?" It's a fair question — and the answer is broader than most people expect. Home care isn't just about helping with housework or showering. It can include everything from nursing and physiotherapy through to meal preparation, social outings, home modifications, and dementia support.
If you're researching for a parent or loved one, this guide will walk you through exactly what's available, how it's funded, and how to make the most of it.
A quick note on terminology: the Australian Government replaced Home Care Packages with the Support at Home program in November 2025. The services available are similar, but the funding structure has changed. This guide covers the services you can access under both the current system and the new program.
For many families, personal care is where home care begins. This includes assistance with showering and bathing, dressing and grooming, toileting, mobility around the home, getting in and out of bed, and oral hygiene.
These are intimate tasks, and we understand that accepting help with them can be a sensitive step for your parent. That's why carer matching matters so much. The right carer — someone who speaks your parent's language, understands their routines, and treats them with genuine warmth — can make this feel natural rather than intrusive.
Domestic assistance covers the practical tasks that keep your loved one's home clean, safe, and comfortable. This includes general cleaning, vacuuming, and mopping, laundry and ironing, meal preparation and cooking, grocery shopping, changing bed linen, light gardening and lawn care, and minor home maintenance like changing lightbulbs.
These tasks might seem small, but they add up. When daily chores become difficult, the home can quickly become unsafe — cluttered floors become trip hazards, spoiled food in the fridge becomes a health risk, and an unkempt garden can signal vulnerability. Regular domestic assistance keeps your parent safe and their home in good order.
Home care can include clinical services delivered by qualified nurses and allied health professionals. Under the Support at Home program, clinical care is fully government-funded — meaning there's no out-of-pocket cost for your loved one.
Nursing and health support covers wound care and dressing changes, medication management, chronic disease management (diabetes, heart conditions, respiratory conditions), continence management, health monitoring and vital signs, post-surgical care, and referrals to specialists.
If your parent has recently been in hospital, post-hospital care can also be arranged to support their recovery at home — helping with rehabilitation exercises, medication schedules, and monitoring for complications.
Loneliness is one of the most damaging aspects of ageing, and it's one that often goes unaddressed. Social and community support is designed to keep your loved one connected, active, and engaged with the world around them.
This includes companionship and conversation, transport to appointments, shopping, and social activities, accompanied outings to parks, cafes, libraries, or places of worship, help attending community events and cultural activities, and support to maintain hobbies and interests.
For many elderly Australians — particularly those whose spouse has passed or whose children live far away — their carer becomes one of the most important social connections in their week. A carer who shares their language and cultural background can provide the kind of natural, comfortable companionship that truly improves quality of life.
If you're caring for a parent yourself, you know how exhausting it can be. In Australia, 54 per cent of carers report high to very high levels of psychological distress. Respite care gives you a break while ensuring your loved one continues to receive quality support.
Respite can be arranged on a regular schedule — say, every Tuesday and Thursday — or on a short-term basis when you need to travel, attend to your own health, or simply rest. It's not a sign of failure. Looking after yourself is how you sustain the ability to look after someone else.
For families dealing with dementia, home care takes on additional dimensions. Dementia and cognitive care includes supervision and safety monitoring, support with daily routines and orientation, engagement activities tailored to cognitive ability, behavioural support and de-escalation, and respite for family carers.
As dementia progresses, the need for consistent, familiar carers becomes critical. A new face each visit can cause confusion and distress. Language consistency is equally important — people living with dementia often lose their ability to communicate in English and revert to their first language, making a language-matched carer not just helpful but essential.
Under Support at Home, funding is available for equipment and modifications that help your parent stay safe and independent at home. This includes grab rails in the bathroom and hallway, ramps and stair modifications, bathroom modifications (walk-in showers, raised toilets), personal alarms and monitoring systems, mobility aids (walkers, wheelchairs), and specialised equipment for specific conditions.
These modifications can make the difference between your parent being able to stay at home safely and needing to move into residential care. A good provider will assess your parent's home as part of the care planning process and recommend modifications where needed.
Under Support at Home, the amount of funding depends on your loved one's classification (1 through 8), determined by their assessment. Clinical services are fully funded. Independence supports require a co-contribution of around 50 per cent. Everyday living supports require a higher contribution, depending on income. Your provider should walk you through exactly what your loved one's funding covers and what any out-of-pocket costs will be. Visit our pricing page for a clear breakdown of how our fees work.
The services listed above represent what's available — but what your loved one actually receives is determined by their individual care plan. A good care plan is built around your parent's specific needs, preferences, and goals. It should be reviewed regularly and adjusted as circumstances change.
The best providers take an active role in helping you use your funding effectively. Under the old Home Care Packages system, billions of dollars went unspent because families didn't know what they were entitled to. Don't let that happen to your family. Ask your provider what else your funding could cover, and make sure every dollar is working to improve your parent's quality of life.
If you're still unsure about what services your parent might need — or how to access them — we're happy to talk it through. A quick phone call is often all it takes to get clarity on the next steps.
Call J.PEER Health on 0469 371 121 for a free, no-obligation chat. We're available 24/7.
Yes. Your care plan is built around your parent's individual needs and preferences. You have a say in which services are included and how often they're delivered.
Home care is flexible. If your parent has a specific need, speak with your provider about whether it can be accommodated within their care plan and funding.
Yes. 24/7 and overnight care is available for people who need supervision or assistance through the night. This can be particularly important for people living with dementia or those recovering from surgery.
Yes. Domestic assistance includes meal preparation and cooking. Your carer can prepare meals that reflect your parent's dietary needs and cultural food preferences — including specific cuisines, ingredients, and cooking styles.
The frequency depends on their assessed needs and funding level. Some people receive care daily, others a few times a week. Your care plan will specify the schedule, and it can be adjusted as needs change.
No obligation. Just a friendly chat about your family's needs. We're available 24/7.
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