Home nursing care cost: What you need to know

Key takeaways

• Private in-home nursing care is arranged and paid for directly by the individual or family.
• Through Mable, you can connect with qualified, independent nurses who provide nursing support at home.
• Nursing services available through Mable may include wound care, catheter care, respiratory care, medication management, continence support and post-hospital care.
• Home nursing care cost through Mable can vary depending on the nurse’s experience, qualifications, the type of care needed, timing and availability.
• Through Mable, nurses set their own rates, with Mable adding a 7.95% client platform fee on top of the agreed rate.
• It’s free to sign up to Mable and start searching for nurses in your area, including last-minute support options when care is needed quickly.

Leaving hospital after an illness, injury or surgery can bring a mix of relief and uncertainty. This can also be true when you’re helping a parent or loved one return home after a hospital stay.

Home may feel like the right place to recover, but working out what support will still be needed, what it might cost and how quickly it can be arranged can feel overwhelming.

If you’re in this situation, this guide gives you a clear, practical breakdown of home nursing care costs when you are arranging and paying for support yourself. This is also known as privately arranged in-home nursing care, and is different from obtaining government funding for out-of-hospital care, such as state based Hospital in the Home programs, where you remain an admitted patient of the hospital but receive care at home.

The guide also explains how Mable can help you connect with qualified, independent nurses, browse indicative rates and understand your options before you commit to anything.

What is private nursing care at home?

Private in-home nursing care is support provided by a qualified nurse in a person’s home. It is arranged and paid for directly by the individual or family or through aged care or disability government funding if available, rather than being funded through a state based hospital program.

This type of care may be useful for people who are:

• Returning home after a hospital stay
• Recovering from surgery or a medical procedure
• Managing a wound or chronic condition
• Needing short-term support before they feel more independent
• Supporting an older parent or loved one to recover safely at home after hospital.

What nursing support can I get at home?

There are many types of in-home nursing support available, and costs of home care may vary depending on the type of service. This is because some care may be straightforward and short-term, while other support may require specialist clinical experience or more complex planning.

On Mable, nursing support includes:

Wound care

A nurse may help with wound assessment, dressing changes and monitoring to support healing and reduce the risk of complications.

Continence assessment and management

Continence support focuses on maintaining comfort, dignity and daily confidence by helping manage bladder or bowel care needs.

Catheter care

This type of care can help keep a person comfortable and may reduce the chance of catheter-related concerns, such as infection. A nurse can support someone with catheter hygiene, monitoring and care.

Vital signs monitoring

This may include checks such as blood pressure and temperature, and help the person and their family stay informed about changes in health, with follow up if needed.

Pre- and post-acute hospital care

Nursing support before or after hospital care may help make the transition home feel more manageable, especially when recovery routines are new.

Respiratory care

For people with breathing-related care needs, nursing support at home may help them feel more comfortable and supported during recovery or daily routines. A nurse can help monitor changes and support respiratory care according to the person’s care plan.

Medication management

Managing medications safely can be important for comfort, recovery and ongoing health needs. Medication management may include support with organising medications, following schedules and taking the right medication at the right time.

How much does home nursing care cost through Mable?

Private nursing care costs at home may vary depending on the type of nursing service and the expertise required.

On the Mable platform, nurses are independent professionals who set their own rates.

A nurse’s rate may vary depending on:

• Their experience and qualifications
• The type of nursing care required, i.e. is it general or more specialised?
• The time of care, such as weekday, weekend, public holiday or overnight support
• The length and frequency of visits
• The location and availability of nurses in your area.

Specialist or clinical care, such as wound care, catheter care, respiratory care or post-hospital support, may have a higher rate than less complex support. Weekend, overnight and public holiday support may also cost more.

As there are no set rates through Mable, the support rate is decided between you and the nurse before support begins, and noted down in your service agreement. The rate must be within Mable’s minimum agreed rate requirements.

Once you agree on a rate with the nurse, Mable adds a 7.95% client platform fee on top of that. For example:

These figures are examples only, not a fixed Mable nursing price list. Your actual cost will depend on the rate you agree with the nurse you choose.

This gives you more choice, control and transparency. Before booking, you can:

• Review a nurse’s profile
• Discuss your needs, budget, preferred visit length and the type of support needed
• Understand or negotiate their rate
• Confirm the total cost.

You can find more information about costs through Mable on our pricing page and our indicative rates page.

Why arrange private nursing care at home through Mable?

When arranging private nursing care at home, it’s natural to want choice and feel confident about the person providing support. Through Mable, safeguards and online tools are in place to help you compare qualified nurses, make a more informed decision and choose the person who best suits your needs.

It’s also quick and easy to sign up and start searching for qualified nurses in your area. This may be especially helpful if care after hospital is short-term, urgent or time-sensitive.

Through Mable, you can:

• Depending on your location, access a large pool of independent nurses with experience across various medical settings
• Review nurse profiles, including their experience, credentials, reviews, availability and indicative rates before connecting with them
• Message nurses directly to discuss your needs, ask questions and agree on rates, visit length, frequency and timing before booking
• Connect with nurses who are qualified, verified and covered by support worker insurance when support is booked and invoiced through Mable
• Arrange flexible support, whether you need one-off nursing care, short-term support after hospital or ongoing care
• Find last minute support for bookings within 4 to 48 hours, which may help when care is needed quickly after hospital.

Mable can help you feel more confident about home care costs

Recovering at home after hospital, or helping someone you love recover at home, can come with worries and questions, alongside new care needs. Having the right nursing support in place may help recovery feel more manageable.

Finding a qualified nurse doesn’t have to feel complicated or out of reach. Through Mable, you can browse nurse profiles, compare experience and rates, and find the person who feels right for your needs.

Sign up for free to browse qualified nurses through Mable and find private in-home nursing support that works for you.