Getting help at home can feel like a big step, especially if your parent still sees themselves as independent. But help at home is not always about taking independence away. Often, it is one of the ways an older person can stay at home more safely and comfortably for longer.
The first help needed is often very practical: cleaning, gardening, shopping, meals, transport, small maintenance jobs, personal care, medication routines or help getting to appointments.
The direct answer
Start by writing down what is getting harder at home and what would make life safer or easier. Then explore whether support can come through My Aged Care, private providers, local services, family, neighbours or community supports. You do not need to know every program name before you begin. Start with the practical need.
Start with what is getting harder
Aged care language can feel overwhelming, so begin with the ordinary tasks. Is cleaning becoming harder? Are meals being skipped? Is the garden unsafe? Is transport to appointments difficult? Is showering or dressing becoming risky? Is family filling more gaps than before?
This gives you a clearer way to ask for help. Instead of saying, 'Mum needs aged care,' you can say, 'Mum is finding showering and meals harder, and we need to understand what support could help.'
What kind of help at home might be available?
Support may include domestic assistance, gardening, meals, transport, social support, personal care, nursing, allied health, assistive technology, home modifications, respite or short-term support after illness or hospital.
The exact support available will depend on your parent’s needs, assessment outcome, location, provider availability and the current program rules.
Contact My Aged Care
In Australia, My Aged Care is the main entry point for Australian Government-funded aged care services. It can help with information, assessments and access to services that may support your parent at home.
You can begin by explaining what has changed: a fall, hospital visit, new diagnosis, trouble with meals, increased difficulty showering, or current services no longer being enough. The assessor or My Aged Care can help connect the practical need to the relevant pathway.
Understand the program names, but do not get stuck in them
Program names, rules and contribution settings can change. At the time of drafting, key in-home pathways include the Commonwealth Home Support Programme for entry-level support and Support at Home for ongoing in-home aged care support.
For the article reader, the main point is this: your parent does not need to know which program applies before asking for help. They can start by explaining what is becoming harder and asking what assessment or support pathway is appropriate.
Ask about costs before agreeing
Costs and contributions can vary depending on the program, service type, provider and your parent’s circumstances. Before agreeing to services, ask what has been approved, what it may cost, whether contributions apply, how services can be paused or changed, and who to call if needs increase.
If your parent already receives support
Care plans are not set-and-forget. If your parent already has services and their needs have changed, ask the provider, assessor or My Aged Care whether a review or reassessment is needed. Be specific about what has changed and what is no longer working.
If your parent wants you involved
If your parent wants your help with My Aged Care or provider conversations, they may be able to register you as a supporter. This can make it easier for you to help with information, follow-up and communication.
Being a registered supporter is not the same as automatically having legal authority to make decisions. It is about supporting your parent to make and communicate their own decisions, unless another formal role applies.
If your parent resists support
Many parents hear 'help at home' as 'you think I cannot cope'. Try framing support around independence, energy and safety. You might suggest trialling one small service, such as gardening or transport, rather than changing everything at once.
If your parent has decision-making capacity, they may refuse help. You can keep the conversation open, name your concerns respectfully and be honest about what family can and cannot keep providing.
When support is local or informal
Not all help comes through formal aged care services. For some families, especially in rural or regional areas, support may also come from neighbours, friends, community groups, local providers, churches, clubs or extended family.
Informal support can be powerful, but it still helps to be clear about what the person is helping with, whether money is involved, and whether the arrangement is safe and sustainable.
From Lucy
My parents lived rurally, so finding support was not always simple. Some services were limited. Some required long travel. But their local community was incredibly supportive, and once we found the right services, those supports became part of their local connection too.
You do not need to understand the whole aged care system before making the first call. Write down what has changed and ask what the next step is.
When to seek professional advice or support
Speak with your parent's GP, hospital team or relevant health professionals if there has been a sudden health change, falls, confusion, medication concerns or safety risk. Contact My Aged Care for current assessment and service pathways. Contact Carer Gateway if you need carer support, counselling, coaching, respite or practical guidance for yourself. Seek legal or advocacy advice if there are capacity, consent, elder abuse, undue influence or decision-making concerns.