Support Available for Older People at Home: Your Options Explained
22 October 2026
An older person living at home can get support from family and friends, from government-funded aged care, from veterans' programs for eligible veterans, and from services arranged privately. The right mix depends on what help is needed, who already helps and how it will be paid for.
This guide maps those routes so you can see where each one starts. It sits alongside our detailed guide to what is included in in-home aged care support, which goes deeper on the government service list.
What kinds of everyday help are there?
Healthdirect lists what aged care services can include. Not every item is delivered at home, but together they show the range of help that exists:
walking frames and mobility equipment
transport and social outings
personal care
health care, including nursing or medical care, allied health services and counselling
It also says aged care services can help with housing and living arrangements, including everyday living help such as housework, shopping or cooking, and house and garden maintenance and home modifications.
Not everyone needs every item. You can start with one or two tasks that have become hard, and add more only if needs change.
Start with the help already around you
Support does not have to begin with a service. A family member taking on the weekly shop, or a neighbour driving to appointments, can cover a gap while you work out what else is needed.
It helps to write down which tasks are hardest and how often they come up. That short list shows whether you need a few hours of paid help or something more regular, and it makes every later conversation easier.
If you are not sure whether it is time for paid help at all, our guide to signs it might be time to consider in-home support can help you decide.
Government-funded support through My Aged Care
Healthdirect says there are 2 types of assessment needed to access any government-funded services for older Australians. Healthdirect says support is generally provided to Australians aged 65 years and over. It also lists Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and over who can no longer live without support.
Healthdirect says My Aged Care can provide information on how to apply for an assessment. Our My Aged Care registration guide walks through applying, and what to expect at an aged care assessment covers the visit itself.
Support at Home is covered in our plain-language guide, Support at Home explained, and our guide to companionship and community support at home covers the social side of support.
If you want more say over who provides care, our explainer on self-managing Support at Home shows what that can involve. For current funding and fee details, check the official government aged care information.
Support for veterans through DVA
Veterans can check what is available to them. Healthdirect notes that a person with a veteran gold or white card may be able to get respite care through DVA.
Check the official veterans' website for current details. Our DVA home support guide explains where to start.
Arranging support privately
Government-funded support is one route, and it is not the only one.
Healthdirect also notes that people who are not eligible for government-funded care can use privately funded services, and in that case they pay the full cost themselves. Our guides on how to find and hire a support worker and independent support workers compared with agencies cover the practical choices.
CareVicinity is an Australia-wide care marketplace connecting people with independent support workers. Availability of specific services and workers may vary by location.
Independent support workers on CareVicinity are independent contractors; CareVicinity does not employ or assign them as staff.
Breaks for the person who provides care
Family and friends who provide care can also get support. Healthdirect says respite care provides an organised, temporary break both for the carer and the person they care for. It says respite care can last from a few hours to a few weeks. It lists types including:
in-home respite, where the person providing respite comes to your home, during the day or overnight
centre-based day respite, usually at a day centre or club
overnight or weekend respite, which can happen in a host family's home or a cottage-style respite house
emergency respite, for when the carer becomes ill or needs to go to hospital
It is worth planning ahead rather than waiting for a crisis, and checking what each type of respite involves before you need it.
Choosing where to start
You do not need to settle everything at once. A simple order works for most households:
List the tasks that are hardest and how often help is needed.
If government-funded support may apply, start by finding out how to apply for an assessment.
If the person is a veteran, check what veterans' programs offer.
If you want help sooner or do not qualify, look at privately arranged support.
Once a provider or worker is chosen, our guide to getting started with in-home support covers what to organise in the first weeks.
FAQ
Do you need an assessment to get help at home?
Healthdirect says there are 2 types of assessment needed to access any government-funded services for older Australians. Our My Aged Care registration guide explains how applying starts.
Can a family member organise help for a parent?
Yes, with the person's permission. A family member can help with the practical steps, such as listing the tasks that are hardest and comparing options. For applying on someone else's behalf, ask what the application needs.
Can support include company and outings, not just household tasks?
Yes. Healthdirect lists transport and social outings among the services that can be included, and our guide to companionship and community support at home covers that kind of help.
What if the person is not eligible for government-funded care?
Privately funded services are still an option. Healthdirect says people not eligible for government-funded care will need to pay the full costs themselves, so it helps to agree the tasks and hours before anything starts.
Sources
Healthdirect, "Aged care services" (page reviewed December 2024), https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/healthcare-and-services/care-and-support/aged-care-services, read 22 October 2026
Healthdirect, "Respite care" (page reviewed July 2025), https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/healthcare-and-services/care-and-support/respite-care, read 22 October 2026