When Is the Right Time to Consider Home Care?

The best time to explore home care is before a crisis occurs. When daily tasks start to feel overwhelming, when personal hygiene or nutrition is neglected, when falls become more frequent, or when family carers begin to burn out, it is generally time to start looking at your options.

Waiting until an emergency happens can limit your choices. Recognising the early signs helps you maintain independence and prevent further decline. Below, we explain the key signs to watch for, how to apply for a My Aged Care assessment, and where to find support along the way.

Key Signs It May Be Time to Explore Home Care

There are several common indicators that extra support could help. You may notice that daily tasks such as household chores, meal preparation, managing medication, or personal care like showering and dressing are becoming increasingly difficult. Safety and mobility concerns are also important to watch for, including unsteadiness, reduced mobility, or one or more falls.

Cognitive or emotional changes can be a signal too, such as increased forgetfulness, missed appointments, unpaid bills, or withdrawing from social activities. Finally, if family carers are showing signs of exhaustion, stress, or difficulty coping, that is a clear sign that additional support may be needed.

If any of these feel familiar, it may be time to start the conversation. Acting early gives you more time to plan and choose the right support.

When to Apply for a My Aged Care Assessment

You should apply for a My Aged Care assessment as soon as you notice changes in your health becoming challenging. We highly recommend applying early, as waiting for assessments and funding can take several weeks. Eligibility generally begins at age 65, or 50 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

How to Apply

You can apply online using the My Aged Care online application, which takes about 15 to 20 minutes and requires your Medicare card. Alternatively, you can call the My Aged Care contact centre on 1800 200 422, or meet in person with an Aged Care Specialist Officer (ACSO) at a Services Australia centre.

You can complete the application for yourself or on behalf of a family member or friend. If you would like to set up a registered supporter, you can do that as part of the same process. When registering a supporter, we recommend completing the form together, in the same place at the same time, as this makes the signing and consent process much easier.

The application covers all types of care and support, including ongoing Support at Home, short-term restorative care, care in an aged care home, and end-of-life care. The form is made up of three parts: Part A checks your age and care needs; Part B confirms who the assessment organisation should contact to arrange the assessment; and Part C is optional, allowing you to request to register a supporter.

Accessibility, Translation and Interpreter Services

If you speak another language or have a hearing impairment, a range of services are available to support you:

• National Relay Service: for people with hearing or speech impairments.
• National Sign Language Program: free sign language interpreting and captioning services for Deaf, Deafblind, and hard of hearing older people.
• Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS): assistance in languages other than English.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language support: call 1800 200 422 and ask for an interpreter in your language.

Taking the Next Step

Choosing home care is an important decision, and you do not have to navigate it alone. Recognising the early signs, applying for your assessment promptly, and knowing where to find support all help you stay independent and safe in your own home for longer.

If you would like further information or support in understanding your options, visit our website. We are here to help you find the right care for your needs.