Support at Home
Your care. Your way.
Understanding aged care can feel overwhelming, especially when you're trying to make the right decisions for yourself or someone you care about.
Support at Home helps older people live safely and independently at home for longer. At allcare, we're here to help you understand your options and access support that's tailored to your needs.
Support at Home across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven
What is the Support at Home program?
Support at Home is the Australian Government’s in-home aged care program. It is designed to help older people remain safe, independent and connected at home for longer.
The program provides government-funded support and services based on your assessed needs, goals and circumstances.
Depending on your assessment, your support may include services from three main categories.
Health-related services delivered by qualified professionals, which may include:
Nursing care
Physiotherapy
Occupational therapy
Podiatry
Continence support
Nutrition and dietetics
Other allied health services
The services available to you will depend on what has been approved in your Support Plan.
Clinical Supports
Services that help you manage everyday activities, remain mobile and stay connected, which may include:
Personal care
Assistance with showering, dressing and grooming
Medication assistance
Transport
Social support and companionship
Respite care
Independence
Everyday Living
Practical assistance with tasks around your home, which may include:
Domestic assistance, including cleaning and household tasks
Gardening
Home maintenance
Meal preparation
Assistance with shopping
Support designed around you
Everyone’s needs are different.
You may only need a little help with cleaning or transport, while someone else may require regular personal care, nursing or assistance following an illness or hospital stay. As your circumstances change, your support can change too.
If you choose allcare, your dedicated Care Partner will work with you and the people important to you to understand:
What matters most to you
What you can currently do independently
Where some additional support may help
Your routines and preferences
Your health, wellbeing and safety
Your short and long-term goals
Together, we'll develop a personalised care plan that reflects your goals, preferences and the support you need to continue living independently.
Choosing a Support at Home provider
Once you have been approved for Support at Home funding, you can choose the provider that best suits your needs, preferences and goals.
While many organisations deliver Support at Home services, the experience you receive can vary significantly. Service flexibility, pricing, communication and continuity of care can all influence your experience.
Every provider is different, so taking the time to compare your options and ask questions can help you find the provider that's right for you.
Why choose allcare for Support at Home?
Choosing a Support at Home provider is about more than finding someone to complete a list of tasks.
It is about choosing a team that listens to you, respects your choices and can provide reliable support when you need it.
At allcare, we believe good care is about more than delivering services. It's about building relationships, understanding what's important to you and providing support that fits around your life.
-
You will have a dedicated Care Partner who gets to know you, your services and your goals.
Your Care Partner will visit you in your home at least twice each year and can arrange additional visits when your needs change or you require more support.
-
We understand how important consistency can be.
Wherever possible, we aim to provide a small team of familiar support workers who understand your routines and preferences.
-
Sometimes you do not need a full hour of support.
Where appropriate, allcare continues to offer 30-minute services. This can provide greater flexibility and help you make the most of your available funding.
-
We keep our service rates competitive so more of your funding can be directed towards the support and services that matter most to you.
We will clearly explain our prices before your services begin and provide regular statements showing how your budget is being used.
-
We understand that not every appointment or outing can be planned weeks in advance. Where possible, we offer flexible transport options to help you get to appointments, complete everyday errands and stay connected with your community.
-
Once your funding is available and you have chosen allcare, we'll work with you to arrange your services as soon as possible, so you can begin receiving the support you need.
-
allcare clients have access to a 24-hour on-call emergency support line.
This means there is someone to contact if an urgent care-related issue arises outside our regular office hours.
-
Staying socially connected is an important part of maintaining your health and wellbeing. Our Out & About program provides opportunities to enjoy new experiences, connect with others and remain involved in your community.
Short-term Support at Home pathways
In addition to ongoing Support at Home services, you may be eligible for short-term funding through one of the program’s specialised pathways.
Eligibility and funding are based on an aged care assessment.
The Assistive Technology and Home Modifications pathway provides separate funding for approved equipment and homecare modifications.
These supports are intended to improve your safety, accessibility and independence and may include:
Walking frames and mobility aids
Shower chairs
Personal alarms
Grab rails and handrails
Ramps
Bathroom safety equipment
Accessibility modifications
Other approved assistive devices
If you're eligible, our team can help you understand the funding available and guide you through the process.
The Restorative Care Pathway provides short-term, intensive support to help you regain or maintain your abilities and independence.
It may be helpful if you have:
Experienced a decline in your mobility or confidence
Recently returned home from hospital
Had a fall or illness
Found everyday activities more difficult
Identified a goal you would like help working towards
Support may include allied health, nursing and other clinical services delivered by a multidisciplinary team.
Restorative Care Pathway
Assistive Technology and Home Modifications
End-of-Life Pathway
The End-of-Life Pathway provides additional short-term in-home support for eligible people who have been diagnosed with three months or less to live and wish to remain at home.
The pathway is designed to complement state and territory palliative care services.
Our team provides compassionate, respectful support based on the person’s needs, wishes and preferences while also working closely with their family, carers and health professionals.
How to access Support at Home
Contact My Aged Care
The first step is to contact My Aged Care and request an aged care assessment.
You can contact My Aged Care by calling
1800 200 422 or by applying online.
Complete assessment
An assessor will talk with you about your health, everyday activities, current circumstances and the areas where you may need help.
You can have a family member, friend, carer or advocate with you during your assessment.
Receive your Support Plan
Following your assessment, you will receive information explaining the services and funding for which you have been approved.
Choose your provider
Once you've been approved for Support at Home funding, you can choose the provider that's right for you. If you choose allcare, our team will explain the next steps, answer your questions and help arrange your services.
Meet your Care Partner
Your Care Partner will meet with you to discuss your needs, goals, available budget and service preferences.
Together, you will develop a care plan and agree on the services you would like to receive.
Already receiving Support at Home?
If you're already receiving Support at Home services, it's worth reviewing them from time to time to make sure they're still meeting your needs.
As your circumstances change, the support that's right for you may change too.
Consider asking:
Do I understand how much I'm paying for each service?
Do I understand my quarterly budget and statements?
Am I making the best use of my available funding?
Do I clearly understand what I'm being charged for?
Do I usually see familiar support workers?
Does my Care Partner listen and respond when my needs change?
Are my current services still helping me achieve what's important to me?
Do I know what other supports or short-term pathways may be available?
If you're unsure about any of these questions, it's worth having a conversation with your provider.
Can I change Support at Home providers?
Yes. You have the right to choose your provider and can change providers when another organisation is a better fit for your needs.
Your Support at Home funding remains allocated to you. You will not be charged an exit fee simply for changing providers.
Before making a decision, it can be helpful to compare:
How service rates are charged
Minimum service times
Staff consistency
Transport availability
Care management and
communicationService availability in your area
After-hours support
Social programs and additional services
Changing providers does not need to be complicated. If you're considering changing providers, our team can explain the process, answer your questions and help you understand your options.
Talk to us about changing providers
-
Eligibility is determined through an aged care assessment.
Generally, government-funded aged care services are available to people aged 65 and over, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 and over, who need support because of ageing-related changes.
Other eligibility circumstances may also apply.
-
Your aged care assessment looks at your needs, abilities, circumstances and goals.
People receiving ongoing Support at Home services are assigned a funding classification based on their assessed needs. Your available funding is provided as a quarterly budget.
-
A limited amount of unused funding can generally be carried from one quarter into the next.
Your Care Partner can help you understand your quarterly budget, monitor your spending and plan services that make appropriate use of your available funding.
-
You may need to contribute towards some services.
The amount depends on the type of service you receive and your individual financial circumstances. Clinical services are fully government funded, while contributions may apply to other approved services.
Your provider should explain the applicable prices and contributions before your services begin. At allcare, we'll always take the time to explain your pricing, any contributions that apply and answer any questions you may have.
-
Yes.
With your permission, family members, carers, representatives or other trusted people can be involved in planning and reviewing your care.
-
Talk to your Care Partner as soon as possible.
We can review your current care plan, adjust your services where possible and help you request a formal Support Plan Review if your approved services or funding no longer meet your needs.
-
No.
You are welcome to speak with our team, ask questions and understand your options before deciding whether allcare is the right provider for you.
Support at Home frequently
asked questions
Where we provide Support at
Home services
allcare provides Support at Home services throughout the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, including:
Wollongong
Thirroul and the Northern Illawarra
Dapto and the Southern Illawarra
Shellharbour
Kiama
Nowra
Berry
Bomaderry
Ulladulla
Surrounding communities
Contact us to confirm the availability of particular services in your location.
You don’t have to figure it out alone
Understanding aged care, assessments, funding and service options can feel overwhelming.
Whether you're exploring aged care for the first time, waiting for an assessment or reviewing your current provider, we're here to help you understand your options and make informed decisions at your own pace.
At allcare, we believe good care starts with getting to know the person, not just their care needs. We take the time to understand what's important to you, so your support reflects your routines, preferences and goals.
Aged care done differently.
Your Care. Your Way.
