Aggy knows how to navigate
healthy ageing, care,
and finding eligibility.

The Australian aged care system is federally funded and delivered by approved providers. There are two main types: home care (support that comes to you) and residential care (moving into a facility).

Before accessing any government-funded care, you must register with My Aged Care (1800 200 422) and have a free ACAT assessment which determines your eligibility level.

Home care is now delivered under the Support at Home program (November 2025), replacing the old Home Care Packages system. Care is funded across budget levels based on assessed need.

The honest truth: the system is fragmented, the language is confusing, and the wait times are real. But it is navigable. That's what Aggy is for.

Means testing calculates how much you contribute to aged care costs based on your income and assets. It does not determine whether you receive care — only what you pay toward it.

For home care: A basic daily fee (~$12.86/day) applies to everyone. An income-tested fee may apply on top. The family home is not counted for home care means testing.

For residential care: Both income and assets are assessed. The family home may be included (but excluded if a spouse or dependent still lives there). There are annual and lifetime caps on contributions.

No one is left without care because they can't afford it. The government subsidises the rest. Current fee schedules ↗

A Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal document giving someone authority to act on another person's behalf. For aged care you need two types.

Enduring Power of Attorney (financial): Allows your person to manage bank accounts, pay bills, and handle property. "Enduring" means it stays valid if the person loses capacity — exactly when you need it most.

Enduring Guardianship (medical): Allows your person to make medical and care decisions if the person can no longer decide for themselves.

Most important: POA must be set up while the person still has legal capacity. Once capacity is lost, the only option is an expensive court process. A solicitor can prepare both for ~$300–600. advancecareplanning.org.au ↗

An ACAT assessment is a free, comprehensive visit from a government-approved assessor — usually a nurse, social worker, or allied health professional. It determines what level of care you're eligible for and unlocks government-funded services.

How to get one: Contact My Aged Care (1800 200 422) or ask the hospital social worker if the person is admitted.

What to say: Be honest about the hard days, not just the good ones. Mention falls risk, safety concerns, and what would happen with no support for a week. The tier affects the funding level.

Wait times: Currently 2–6 weeks for a home visit. Faster if the person is in hospital. More about assessments ↗

Resistance is normal. Your parent isn't being difficult — they're protecting their identity and independence. That's worth respecting, and worth working through.

Don't start with "we need to talk about aged care." Start with: "I want to make sure you can stay in this house as long as possible. Can we talk about what would help?"

Ask, don't tell. "What worries you most about getting older?" People are more receptive when they feel heard rather than managed.

Make it about the family. "Sorting this now is a gift to all of us — it means we don't make these decisions in a crisis." Many parents respond to framing that centres their children rather than their own limitations.

Use a third party. Sometimes a GP, a trusted friend, or Aggy's own words are easier to hear than a child's. Carer Gateway guidance ↗

Step 1 — Ask for a social worker today. Every hospital has one. Their job is discharge planning. Ask at the nurses' station. They can fast-track ACAT assessments and connect you to services you don't know exist.

Step 2 — Request an ACAT assessment while admitted. In-hospital assessments happen faster. The social worker arranges this.

Step 3 — Don't sign discharge paperwork until you have a plan. Hospitals cannot discharge someone to an unsafe situation. You can say "we are not ready."

Step 4 — Call My Aged Care (1800 200 422). Tell them the person is in hospital and needs urgent home care for discharge. Ask about transition care programs.

Carer burnout is real, common, and rarely talked about. If you're caring for someone you love, you're probably not okay some of the time. That's not failure. It's the nature of the role.

Signs of burnout: Exhaustion that sleep doesn't fix. Resentment toward the person you're caring for. Feeling like you've disappeared from your own life.

What you're entitled to: A free Carer Gateway assessment, carer counselling, emergency and planned respite (someone else takes over so you can rest), and potentially a Carer Payment or Allowance from Centrelink.

Respite care is government-funded support that gives you a break. It is not abandoning someone. It's how you keep going.

Call the Carer Gateway: 1800 422 737. Free, confidential, for carers only. carergateway.gov.au ↗

The honest answer nobody gives you: under the new Support at Home program (November 2025), wait times from assessment to first service range from a few weeks at lower care levels to several months at higher levels. Rural areas typically wait longer.

What you can do while waiting:

— Access the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) immediately for basic services. Ask My Aged Care specifically about this.

— Arrange private home care directly through a provider as a temporary bridge.

— If the situation deteriorates, contact My Aged Care to have the urgency reviewed.

The most important thing: Register as early as possible. The wait clock only starts once you're registered. Register with My Aged Care ↗