The best home care services for older Australians are the ones that address the specific things making everyday life harder while helping the person keep doing as much as possible for themselves. That may mean Occupational Therapy for home safety, Physiotherapy for mobility and falls prevention, personal care for showering and dressing, nursing for clinical needs, or practical help with cleaning, meals and transport.

For many people, the best result comes from combining several types of support rather than relying on one service alone.

If you or someone you care for wants to remain living at home, this guide explains which services can make the biggest difference, how they fit within Australia’s Support at Home system and how to work out what support is right for you.

Information in this article is current as at October 2026.

What home care services help older Australians stay independent?

There is no single service that is best for everyone.

A useful way to think about home care is to ask:

What is making independence harder right now?

For one person, the biggest risk may be falling. For another, it may be struggling to shower safely. Someone else may be managing well physically but finding cooking, transport or maintaining the home increasingly difficult, and home care can include personal care, nursing care and allied health services.

Australia’s Support at Home program reflects this, as Australia’s aged care system includes government-subsidised aged care services for older Australians through a defined list across Clinical Supports, Independence and Everyday Living. The current Australian Government service list contains 49 services across 14 service types.

The aim is not simply to provide more care. For eligible older Australians, government-funded aged care and other support services should help an older person remain safe, capable, connected and involved in decisions about their own life for as long as possible.

The best home care services by everyday need

The right combination depends on the person’s assessed needs and goals.

1. Occupational Therapy for everyday independence and home safety

Occupational Therapy can be one of the most useful home-based services when everyday activities are becoming difficult.

An Occupational Therapist looks at what the person wants or needs to do, what is making that difficult and whether changes to skills, routines, equipment or the home environment could make the activity safer or easier.

That might include getting in and out of the shower, dressing, preparing food, moving around the home, getting on and off the toilet or continuing hobbies and everyday routines.

An Occupational Therapist may also assess the home for risks and recommend Assistive Technology or Home Modifications, such as bathroom equipment, rails or accessibility changes.

Under Support at Home, Assistive Technology and Home Modifications have a separate funding pathway, so eligible participants do not have to save this expenditure from their ordinary quarterly Support at Home budget.

For someone whose goal is simply “I want to keep managing at home myself”, Occupational Therapy can often identify small changes before they become larger problems.

2. Physiotherapy for mobility, balance and falls prevention

A loss of mobility can quickly affect independence.

When walking becomes harder, confidence can fall as well. People may stop going outside, reduce activity or begin relying more heavily on family members.

Physiotherapy can support mobility, balance, strength and physical function. A Physiotherapist may work on walking, transfers, balance, movement strategies and exercises that make everyday activities safer.

This can be particularly helpful after a fall, hospital admission, illness or a noticeable decline in mobility.

The goal is not simply exercise for its own sake. It is often something very practical, such as being able to walk safely to the letterbox, get out of bed independently or feel confident moving around the kitchen.

3. Exercise Physiology for strength and staying active

Exercise Physiology can help older people maintain or rebuild the physical capacity needed for daily life.

An Exercise Physiologist can develop an individualised exercise program based on the person’s health, mobility and goals. This may focus on strength, endurance, balance and confidence with activity.

For some people, Physiotherapy may address a specific mobility problem first, while Exercise Physiology provides a longer-term approach to maintaining strength and activity.

Staying active can support independence because everyday tasks require physical capacity. Carrying groceries, climbing steps, getting out of a chair and walking through a shopping centre all depend on strength and endurance.

4. Personal care when everyday self-care becomes difficult

Sometimes independence is best protected by accepting help with the tasks that have become unsafe or exhausting.

Personal care services can include assistance with bathing or showering, dressing, eating, continence support and personal hygiene.

From 1 October 2026, approved personal care under Support at Home attracts a 0% participant contribution. This means the Australian Government funds the service price where personal care is included in the person’s support plan and sufficient Support at Home funding is available.

Receiving personal care does not mean giving up independence. The right level of assistance can allow a person to conserve their energy and continue managing other parts of life themselves.

5. Nursing for clinical care at home

Home nursing can help people manage clinical needs without leaving home unnecessarily.

Depending on assessed needs, nursing support may include areas such as wound care, continence management, medication-related support and health monitoring.

Nursing sits within Clinical Supports under Support at Home. Clinical Supports attract a 0% participant contribution, meaning the government funds the full service price within the person’s approved Support at Home funding.

For someone managing more complex health needs, nursing may form one part of a broader support team alongside allied health and personal care.

6. Speech Pathology for communication and swallowing

Changes in speech, language or swallowing can have a significant impact on independence, safety and quality of life.

A Speech Therapist can assess and support difficulties with communication and swallowing.

For example, someone living with a neurological condition may need support to communicate more effectively, while another person may need assessment and strategies to make eating and drinking safer.

Speech Pathology is included among the allied health professions recognised within Support at Home’s Clinical Supports.

7. Psychology/Counselling for emotional wellbeing and confidence

Remaining independent is not only about physical ability.

Ageing can bring changes in health, relationships, confidence, identity and lifestyle. Illness, loss, increased reliance on others or fear following a fall can also affect emotional wellbeing.

A Psychologist can support areas such as anxiety, adjustment, grief, reduced confidence and emotional wellbeing when these needs fall within the person’s approved aged care supports.

This can be particularly important when fear starts limiting participation. Someone who is physically capable of leaving home but is frightened of falling again may gradually become more isolated unless both physical and psychological barriers are addressed.

8. Domestic assistance, meals, transport and practical support

Sometimes the most useful service is also the simplest.

Cleaning, laundry, shopping assistance, meal services, transport and home maintenance can reduce the physical load of managing a household and allow an older person to spend their energy on the things they most want to keep doing, with social support services also helping combat isolation among seniors. Practical help can also include social activities or community access that help people stay connected.

Support can also include help attending social events.

Under Support at Home, these supports sit across the Independence and Everyday Living categories. Participant contributions may apply, depending on the service and the person’s financial circumstances. Clinical Supports have a 0% contribution, while Independence attracts a moderate contribution and Everyday Living generally attracts the highest contribution.

From 1 October 2026, personal care is an exception because it is now fully government-funded for approved participants with available Support at Home funds.

Do not overlook Assistive Technology and Home Modifications

Sometimes the best “care service” is not another person coming into the home.

The right equipment or modification can allow someone to keep doing an activity themselves.

The Assistive Technology and Home Modifications Scheme provides separate funding for eligible Support at Home participants. Home modifications can include handrails, ramps, stair lifts, bathroom changes and widened doorways, depending on assessed need.

Assistive Technology can also include equipment that improves safety, helps make the home safer or makes daily tasks easier.

An Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist may be involved in assessing what is appropriate, particularly where equipment or changes need to match a person’s physical abilities and home environment.

What if someone has recently declined after a fall or illness?

Support at Home includes a Restorative Care Pathway specifically for people who may benefit from short-term, intensive support to regain or maintain function.

The pathway can provide allied health and nursing services for up to 16 weeks. Each episode currently provides around $6,000 in funding, with an additional funding unit potentially available for eligible participants.

This approach is particularly relevant when the objective is not simply to accommodate a new limitation, but to see whether function can be restored.

For example, after a fall, a person may benefit from Physiotherapy to rebuild mobility, Occupational Therapy to improve home safety and equipment, and Exercise Physiology to continue rebuilding strength.

That combination can be more effective than simply providing more assistance with everything the person has temporarily stopped doing.

How do you decide which home care services are best?

Start with the person’s goals and care needs, not a list of available services.

Instead of asking “What services can I get?”, try asking:

“What do I want to keep being able to do at home, and what is getting in the way?”

For example, “I want to keep showering myself”, “I want to walk to the local café”, “I want to continue cooking”, or “I want to stay in this house safely”.

Those answers make it much easier to identify whether the solution is therapy, equipment, personal care, practical household help or a combination.

Support at Home participants receive a support plan based on their aged care assessment, with additional services considered where appropriate. They then work with their provider to choose services from those approved for them, and may also receive advice on which options best match those needs.

Support at Home or CHSP: which applies?

Australia currently has more than one government-funded pathway for receiving help at home.

Support at Home is designed for older Australians with more complex or coordinated ageing-related needs. It replaced the former Home Care Packages Program and Short-Term Restorative Care Programme on 1 November 2025.

The Commonwealth Home Support Programme provides entry-level support for seniors, including domestic assistance, meals, transport, social support and allied health. The Australian Government confirmed in August 2026 that CHSP funding has been extended until 30 June 2029.

My Aged Care is the main aged care website and the gateway for information, assessments and applications. You can apply for assessment online through the aged care website or ask a loved one to help. A face-to-face assessment is required to determine the appropriate pathway and services.

What should you look for when choosing home care services?

Good home care should support the person’s independence rather than automatically doing everything for them.

Look for services that are linked to clear goals, appropriate to the person’s assessed needs and flexible enough to change as those needs change.

For allied health, ask what the Therapist is trying to achieve, how progress will be measured and what the person or family can do between appointments.

For personal and practical supports, consider whether the service is making daily life safer and more manageable while preserving as much choice and independence as possible.

Price and cost also matter. Support at Home providers set their own service prices and are required to publish their price lists. Comparing prices can help participants understand how far their quarterly budget may go, and they may need to provide information about their income and assets to work out what they may pay.

How Bloom Healthcare supports independence at home

Bloom Healthcare provides allied health services for older Australians through our Support at Home services.

Our focus is not simply on providing therapy sessions. We work with older people, families, carers, care providers and the wider care team around practical goals that help someone continue living safely and confidently at home.

Depending on the person’s needs, this may include Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Exercise Physiology, Speech Pathology or Psychology/Counselling.

Bloom services can be delivered at home, in the community or through telehealth where appropriate.

Bloom does not provide every type of broader support service available under Support at Home. Where domestic assistance, personal care, nursing, meals, transport or other supports are required, allied health can form one part of the person’s broader care plan, with care management sitting with another provider where multiple services are involved.

The important part is delivering quality care through the right combination.

Referrers

Who may benefit from a referral? An older person experiencing care needs or changes in mobility, balance, strength, daily living skills, home safety, communication, swallowing, confidence or emotional wellbeing, or someone who may need assessment for Assistive Technology or Home Modifications.

What should a referral include? The person’s main functional concerns, their goals for remaining independent at home, current Support at Home or CHSP arrangements where known, any current provider arrangements or service agreement, relevant health information, recent falls or changes in function, and any existing reports or recommendations.

Who can refer? Older people, families and clients can contact Bloom directly. Referrals may also come from Support at Home providers, Care Partners, General Practitioners, hospitals and other health professionals.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best home care services for older Australians?

The best services depend on what is limiting independence. Common supports include allied health, personal care, nursing, domestic assistance, meals, transport, Assistive Technology and Home Modifications. Often, a combination works better than one service alone.

What services help an older person stay independent at home?

Services that maintain mobility, daily living skills, personal safety and the home environment are particularly important. These can include Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Exercise Physiology, personal care, nursing, domestic assistance and appropriate equipment.

Is Physiotherapy covered under Support at Home?

Physiotherapy is included within allied health and other therapeutic services under Support at Home. Clinical Supports have a 0% participant contribution when the service is approved and available within the person’s funding.

Is Occupational Therapy covered under Support at Home?

Yes. Occupational Therapy is included among the allied health professions within Support at Home Clinical Supports. Occupational Therapy can also be important when assessing Assistive Technology or Home Modifications.

Is personal care free under Support at Home?

From 1 October 2026, approved personal care has a 0% participant contribution where the person has personal care in their support plan and sufficient available Support at Home funding.

Can Support at Home pay for home modifications?

Eligible participants can access separate funding through the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications Scheme. The support must address an assessed need and meet the program requirements.

What should I do if an older person’s needs suddenly change?

Speak with their Support at Home provider or Care Partner. A change in function may require adjustment of approved services, a support plan review or reassessment. In some circumstances, the Restorative Care Pathway may also be appropriate.

How do I start accessing home care services?

The usual starting point for government-funded aged care services is through My Aged Care. It is the Australian Government’s aged care website. The assessment identifies the person’s needs and determines which services or programs they may be eligible to access. Once approved, the person may sign a service agreement before services begin.

Make a Referral

If you or someone you support wants to help an elderly loved one stay living safely in their own home but changes in mobility, strength, daily activities, communication, swallowing or confidence are making that harder, Bloom Healthcare can help.

Our Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Exercise Physiologists, Speech Therapists and Psychologists work with older Australians on practical goals that support safety, independence, healthy ageing and quality of life at home.

You do not need to know which discipline is right before you contact us. Tell us what is becoming difficult and our team can help identify the most appropriate starting point.

Make a Referral for the highest quality support.