Aged care is a system of supports for older people either in their own home, or in an aged care (nursing) home. It can include help with everyday living, including cooking and cleaning; health care; specialised accommodation; and equipment to keep you mobile, such as walking frames or ramps. Aged care is Government-funded for people who are eligible. Find out more about aged care and if you need it.
Home care vs residential aged care
To help you decide what type of care you need, it’s important to understand the differences between the two.
Home care aims to help you live independently in your own home for as long as possible. To achieve this, you’ll have access to support services including:
- Healthcare, such as nursing, physiotherapy and other allied healthcare
- Personal care – for example, dressing and showering
- Transport
- Housework
- Food and shopping, including meal preparation
- Social support to help you stay connected with the people and things you love
- Modifications to your home.
The cost of these services will be fully covered or subsidised by the government, depending on your income. There are currently two government funded programs that deliver home-based support – the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) for basic level support and the Home Care Package (HCP) for those with higher level of care needs. The Australian Department of Health has plans to merge these two programs into a single program called the Support at Home program, in the coming year or two.
Find out more about how to access funding for aged care.
You can also pay privately for these services by finding Independent Support Workers through Mable.
What is residential care, then? Residential care is there for people who need a higher level of care to meet their health and personal care needs, that might not be able to be provided in the home. It’s called residential aged care, of course, because it becomes your new residence. Residential aged care homes are often called ‘residential aged care facilities’ or ‘nursing homes’. In some places they are called ‘assisted living facilities’. The cost of residential aged care is subsidised by the government, depending on how your needs are assessed. Learn more about how funding for residential care works.
How do I decide between home care vs residential care?
Your decision depends on what your support needs are. For instance, you might be living in an environment that is safe and easy for you to live in (eg. a lift in your building that makes it easy for you to go to the shops or a bathroom fitted with support to make it easy to use it). On the other hand, you might live in an environment that is harder for you to navigate (for example, a bathroom with slippery floors that can increase the risk of fall) or you have complex care needs that cannot be received if you live in, say, a remote region.
Simply put, whether the best option for you is home care or residential care depends on the aged care assessment (ACAT).
Things to consider:
What is the type of support you need?
Are you able to live independently with a little bit of support (such as meal preparation, personal care, etc.)? Or do you need higher level, more complex care?
Is living at home a priority for you?
More and more Australians are choosing to continue living at home for as long as they can. If living at home is a priority for you, home care is a better alternative, taking into account the level of your support needs. Making modifications to your home may help you live well while receiving the care you need. Again, your ACAT assessment will help you understand if you can receive the support you need through a Home Care Package or if a residential aged care facility will suit your needs better.
Your financial situation
Your finances will be a factor in your decision. Home care services require a basic daily fee and an income-tested care fee, while residential care will involve those as well as accommodation costs.
FAQs
How can Mable help you get support?
Mable helps you connect with Independent Support Workers in your area. You have the freedom to choose the support workers and services you want, when you want, and how much you want to pay. Find out how.
In this Aged Care guide
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