Aged care workers can help with a wide range of day-to-day supports under Support at Home, depending on your assessed needs, support plan and funding arrangement.
Support at Home services are grouped into three broad categories:
- clinical supports
- independence services
- everyday living services
Examples include nursing and nutrition under clinical supports, personal care, respite and transport under independence services, and domestic assistance and home maintenance under everyday living services. Services still need to align with the participant’s assessed needs and approved support plan.
Through Careseekers, older Australians commonly use workers for support such as:
- personal care
- domestic support
- companionship
- transport
- respite
- dementia support
- palliative care support
- overnight support
The short answer
Through Careseekers, aged care workers can often help with:
- showering, dressing and grooming
- cleaning, laundry and meal preparation
- companionship and social support
- transport to appointments, shops and outings
- respite support
- routine support at home
- some specialised in-home supports, depending on the worker and the arrangement
The exact mix of support depends on:
- what you have been assessed for
- what sits in your support plan
- whether your provider agrees to fund the service through Careseekers
- the worker’s experience and the type of support involved.
Personal care
Many older Australians use aged care workers for personal care.
This can include help with:
- showering
- dressing
- grooming
- hygiene
- mobility-related support
- morning or evening routines
Personal care is a recognised aged care service, and under Support at Home it sits within independence services.
Domestic support
Aged care workers can also help with everyday tasks around the home.
This may include:
- cleaning
- laundry
- meal preparation
- shopping support
- general household help
Under Support at Home, domestic assistance sits within everyday living services.
Companionship and social support
Support is not only about practical tasks.
Many people want support that helps them stay connected, confident and engaged in daily life. Through Careseekers, this can include:
- social visits
- conversation
- walks
- general companionship
- support getting out and about
Transport and community access
Aged care workers can often help with transport-related support.
This may include:
- getting to appointments
- shopping trips
- social outings
- community activities
Under Support at Home, transport is listed within independence services.
Respite support
Some families use aged care workers to provide respite support.
That may mean support that gives a family member or regular carer a break while making sure the older person still has the help they need. Respite is also included within independence services under Support at Home.
Dementia, palliative and overnight support
Depending on the worker’s background and the support arrangement, Careseekers can also be used for more specialised in-home support, including:
- dementia support
- palliative support
- overnight support
The right fit matters here. When support is more specialised, it is especially important to choose a worker whose experience matches the kind of help needed.
Not every Support at Home service is the same as an aged care worker service
This is an important distinction.
Support at Home covers a broad service list, including clinical supports such as nursing care and nutrition. Not every service under the program will be the right fit for an aged care worker on Careseekers. Some services may need a different type of professional, such as:
- nursing care
- allied health
- nutrition-related clinical support
- other clinical services
That is why it is important to match the worker to the support needed, rather than assuming one worker can provide every kind of funded service.
How this works through Careseekers
We make it easier to compare workers based on the kind of support you actually need.
Through Careseekers, you can:
- browse worker profiles
- compare experience, availability and hourly rates
- choose the worker who best suits your needs
- arrange one-off, occasional or ongoing support
If you want to use Support at Home funding, your approved provider needs to agree to pay Careseekers for eligible services delivered through the platform.
What should you check before arranging support?
Before booking a worker, it helps to be clear on:
- what help is actually needed
- whether the support is covered in your support plan
- whether the service is something an aged care worker can provide
- whether your provider will fund it through Careseekers
- whether the worker has the right experience for your situation
The clearer these points are at the start, the easier it is to choose the right support.
Frequently asked questions
Can I book personal care through Careseekers under Support at Home?
Yes, in many cases. Careseekers workers can provide personal care such as help with showering, dressing and grooming, depending on your needs and funding arrangements.
Can I arrange domestic help through Careseekers?
Yes. Domestic assistance such as cleaning, laundry and meal preparation can often be arranged through Careseekers.
Can aged care workers help with transport?
Yes. Transport to appointments, shops and outings can often be arranged, depending on your support plan and funding. Transport is also part of the Support at Home service list.
Can I arrange companionship and social support?
Yes. Many older Australians use Careseekers for companionship, conversation, walks and general social support.
Can aged care workers provide nursing or other clinical care?
Not always. Some Support at Home services are clinical services and may need a different type of qualified professional rather than an aged care worker.
How do I know if a service is eligible under my funding?
Support at Home services need to match your assessed needs and support plan. Your approved provider can help confirm whether a particular service can be funded through your package.
Ready to find the right kind of support?
We make it easier to compare aged care workers, understand what support they can help with, and choose the worker who feels right for your needs.
Read: How Does Support at Home Work with Careseekers?
Read: What Will I Pay Under Support At Home?
Read: Can I Choose My Own Aged Care Worker with Support at Home?
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