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What services are available?
There are an increasing number of aged care services both Australian Government subsidised services and those that are independent from the government. This site only covers Australian Government subsidised services which are available to help older Australians receive their care at home, but these vary from area to area. Whether you’re planning to look after your family member’s needs with help or without help, it’s worth knowing what's available in your area from the list below, just in case.
- Community nursing and health centres (more information)
- Allied health care (more information)
- Meals and other food services
- Domestic help & personal care
- Home modifications and maintenance (more information)
- Transport
- Day Therapy Centres (more information)
- Short-term care (more information)
- Social support
- Carer support
- Counselling
- Other services
Community nursing and health centres
A nurse can visit you at home to assist with personal hygiene, medication, injections or changing dressings. Care can be provided regularly or occasionally as you need it.
Read more: Community nursing and health centres
Allied health care
Allied health services include physiotherapy, psychology, podiatry, chiropody, audiology/audiometry, chiropractic, dietary, nursing, occupational therapy, osteopathy, paramedical, speech pathology and therapy, dental and optical services and selected alternative therapies carried out by qualified practitioners.
Read more: Allied health care
Meals and other food services
If you have difficulty preparing your own meals, food services can deliver nutritious meals (fresh or frozen) to your home or local centre or simply help with meal preparation.
Read more: Meals and other food services
Domestic help and personal care
Home help services can help out with your cleaning, shopping, laundry and personal care, such as bathing, dressing or going to the toilet.
Read more: Domestic help & personal care
Home modifications and maintenance
You may be entitled to help with essential home repairs and modifications, including the installation of safety ramps and support rails and the widening of doorways. Referrals can also be made to reliable tradespeople for other work.
Read more: Home modifications and maintenance
Transport services
Transport services can help you get out and about, for appointments, shopping, hospital visits and social activities if you don’t have access to transport or are unable to use it.
Read more: Transport services
Day Therapy Centres
These centres may provide you with a wide range of rehabilitation and therapy services such as physiotherapy, occupational and speech therapy, podiatry and more.
Read more: Day Therapy Centres
Short-term care
The short-term care provided by respite services can help your carer take a break, for a few hours or a few days, by supplying a trained person to provide support at home or your local care centre.
Read more: Short term care
Social support
Sometimes getting older is associated with feeling lonely and isolated. This is why most community services offer help for older people and their carers to get out and about. This section has ideas on how to deal with loneliness as well as some further resources on where you can go for help.
Read more: Social support
Carer support
The Network of Carers Associations provide a single point of contact in each state and territory for local government respite programs, as well as providing counselling for carers. The centres also provide you with information and access to support groups where carers can meet others in similar circumstances to share ideas, feelings and concerns.
Read more: Carer support
Counselling
There may be times when you or someone you know needs counselling services – whether for bereavement, depression, drug or alcohol-related problems, or the stress of being a carer. Here you’ll find suggestions on where you may be able to go for help.
Read more: Counselling
Other services
Go to this section if you want to know more about Telstra services such as Priority Assistance for those with a life-threatening medical condition and the Disability Program, which provides specialised equipment to improve disabled access to the telephone. You’ll also find information in this section on the National Relay Service for deaf and hearing impaired people.
Read more: Other services