How to Access Aged Care
Practical guidance for Australia and the United States
How to access aged care in Australia?
If you’re trying to understand aged care in Australia for yourself, a parent, a partner, or someone you support, it can be hard to know where to begin.
This page explains:
- how the system works,
- what support options exist,
- how to get started,
- and what to do next.
You do not need to understand everything at once.
You just need the right starting point.
Explore the detailed guides
What kind of support are you looking for?
Help to stay at home
Support with things like:
- personal care
- meals
- cleaning
- transport
- nursing
- safety at home
If you’re confused about how to enter the system or what to do first, start here.
If you need to know how eligibility or assessments work, this is the next step.
Explore government-funded support at home. Support at Home replaced the Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care programmes.
If support at home may no longer be enough and you need to understand care home options.
👉 Learn about residential care
If you are trying to understand what support may cost and what funding may be available.
What should I do first?
Start with the support needed now, then choose the most useful next step.
Work out what support is needed?
Think about what is becoming harder.
This may include:
- showering or dressing
- meal preparation
- getting around safely
- remembering medications
- housework
- transport
- loneliness or isolation
- caregiver strain
👉 You do not need to have all the answers before taking the next step.
Understand whether support is needed at home or beyond home
For some people, support at home is enough.
For others, it may be time to think about broader or more intensive care options.
If you are unsure, start with:
Start with the clearest next action
Usually, the best next action is one of these:
- learn how My Aged Care works
- understand the assessment process
- explore home support options
- compare residential care pathways
- understand likely costs
That is enough to begin.
Key Australian aged care pathways
Learn about the main access points and care options, then follow the guide that fits your situation.
My Aged Care
This is often the first place people hear about when trying to access government-funded aged care support.
It can help connect people to:
- assessments,
- information,
- and support pathways.
Assessment
Aged Care Assessments
Assessments help determine what type of support may be appropriate and what services someone may be eligible for.
Care at home
Care At Home
Many people want to remain at home as long as possible.
This may involve help with daily living, safety, transport, personal care, or nursing support.
Home support
Support at Home
Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care. Contact My Aged Care to understand the pathway relevant to you.
Residential care
Residential Aged Care
If staying at home is no longer safe or practical, it may be time to understand residential aged care options.
Common situations people are trying to work out
How this website can help you
This website can help you:
- understand how aged care in Australia works
- learn what support options exist
- prepare for the next step
- understand assessments and pathways
- compare home and residential care options
- find practical tools and checklists
- feel less overwhelmed
Helpful tools and next steps:
Need help working out the next step?
If you’re unsure what type of support is needed or where to begin, you can get personalised guidance to help you understand your options and plan what to do next.