An Australian woman who reaches 85 has, on average, another seven years ahead of her. More than three in four people aged 85 and over living at home need help with everyday activities.
If you’re helping Mum, knowing where to start can be daunting. There’s care to organise, paperwork to navigate and decisions to make. These 13 practical pointers can help you understand the support available and plan the next steps.
1. Start before a crisis: Apply through My Aged Care when everyday life becomes harder. Don’t wait until the family can’t cope.
2. Understand the assessment: A structured assessment and scoring system help determine funding. Describe Mum’s difficulties honestly, including the help you provide. “I’m managing” can hide how much support that takes.
3. Care budgets can exceed $80,000 a year: Support at Home budgets are based on assessed care needs, not income or assets. That applies to pensioners and self-funded retirees alike. Over several years, this can provide substantial support.
4. Understand what Mum pays: Means testing determines her contribution towards some services. This doesn’t shrink her assessed budget: Mum pays part and government pays the balance. The budget isn’t necessarily all government money.
5. Expect waiting: Approval doesn’t mean immediate services. Funding follows a national priority system. Finding an available local provider is another step.
6. Ask about entry-level help: The Commonwealth Home Support Programme offers basic assistance. Local availability varies, creating what can feel like a postcode lottery. Finding help may take several calls.
7. Choose services carefully: Contribution rules vary. Since 1 October, approved personal care – including showering and dressing – has no co-contribution within the available budget. Match services to Mum’s needs and finances.
8. Check who’s behind the website: Search results include providers, directories and businesses collecting enquiries for referral. Know where your details go. My Aged Care is the government starting point.
9. Find the prices: Providers must publish prices. Ask what Mum’s proposed services will actually cost, including any minimum visit requirements, before signing an agreement.
10. Compare like for like: Understanding typical prices helps you judge value and make the budget go further. Compare similar services, then ask about availability, continuity of carers and how the provider handles changing needs.
11. Look ahead to residential care: Mum may never need it. Understanding potential costs now can make later decisions about care, cash and the family home less rushed.
12. Know about government borrowing: Eligible homeowners may use the Home Equity Access Scheme, a government reverse-mortgage-style loan currently charging 3.95% a year. It can help fund care without selling immediately. Interest compounds fortnightly; the loan is generally repaid from a property sale or the estate.
13. Keep other entitlements current: Age Pension eligibility, utility concessions, Medicare and PBS benefits have their own rules. Checking eligibility and updating Mum’s circumstances is an ongoing job.
Getting organised early can make a real difference to Mum’s choices and the family supporting her. Later Life Advice helps families plan for and navigate these years. Our Later Life Map (laterlifeadvice.com.au/map) helps you find local care providers, compare published prices and benchmark Support at Home costs.