Living well at home, or in residential aged care

Living well at home, or in residential care

One of many important goals when caring for someone with dementia is to prevent causing them extra distress. Studies have shown that people living with dementia have a significantly higher quality of life if they remain in their own home, compared to living in a nursing home. They have more social contact, higher levels of activity, more exposure to daylight, and less use of psychotropic medications.

However, sometimes dementia specific care is the best — or the only — option for your situation. It’s important you don’t feel guilty about that decision, as caring for someone is a full time job, and we can only do our best.

Below you’ll find more information about both options.

Staying in the home

There are three government funded programs that can support people living with dementia to continue living at home (note that these services are not only for people who are living with dementia). These are the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, a Home Care Package, and the NDIS. Information about each of these programs is provided below.

✔️The Commonwealth Home Support Programme can assist people with basic support such as cleaning, showering, shopping, meals, transport, podiatry, physiotherapy, home maintenance such as lawn mowing, transport, and other aids to stay independent. 

To be eligible for the program, you must be 65 years or older (50 years or older for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people). If you are on a low income and homeless, or at risk of being homeless, the age criteria is lowered to 50 years or older (45 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people). 

The cost of the Commonwealth Support Programme depends on what you can afford, the type of support, and the provider. According to MyAged Care, “Simple services like house cleaning and meals might cost a few dollars. More complex services like renovation work will cost much more.” 

You can find out more about the Commonwealth Support Programme online, or contact MyAged Care on 1800 200 422.

✔️A Home Care Package is an option for people who have more intensive, long-term needs. These packages are ‘Consumer Directed’, meaning that you and the person you care for have a say in what is included in the package and how support is delivered. Services include (but are not limited to) what is offered under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme. 

Eligibility for a Home Care Package determined through an assessment, but you must also be: an older person who needs coordinated services to help them stay at home (this of course may be due to dementia, but it could also be due to various other factors), or a younger person with a disability, dementia or other care needs not met through other specialist services.

According to My Aged Care, your financial situation won’t affect your eligibility for a Home Care Package. But you may also need an income assessment through Services Australia to work out exactly how much you may be asked to contribute. More information is available on the Home Care Package costs and fees page, or call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.

You can check online if you’re eligible for the Commonwealth Support Programme or for a Home Care Package, or call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.

✔️NDIS is the best option if you don’t meet the criteria for the Commonwealth Home Support Programme or the Home Care Package. Some people may also consider using providers who are not government-funded.

Living in residential care

Sometimes dementia specific care is the best option for your situation. If full time residential care is needed, the first step is to contact My Aged Care as soon as possible for an assessment from ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team). Note there can be extensive waiting lists.

ACAT will visit your family member at home, with you present, and ask questions to determine eligibility. If they agree that your loved one is ready to live in an aged care home, they will provide a referral number you will need before you start the search for the right aged care home.

For some key factors to consider when choosing residential care, please read this article.

This information is collated by volunteers. If any of this information has changed, please help us stay up-to-date by getting in touch.