Aged care at home in Adelaide can involve several steps: describing the support a person needs, requesting an assessment, understanding the decision and arranging services. Preparing notes about daily life can help families explain what support is needed. An assessment approval does not mean ongoing services will start straight away.

Key takeaways

  • Note the tasks that have become difficult, what help is already in place and what matters to the older person.
  • Request an aged care assessment through My Aged Care. A trusted person, interpreter or advocate can help if the older person wants support.
  • Read the Notice of Decision and support plan. Approval for ongoing Support at Home and the allocation of funding are separate steps.
  • Before services begin, check the written agreement, services, prices, contributions and how to contact the provider.
  • For current program details and provider comparisons, use the broader Adelaide home care services guide linked below.

This guide offers general information for older people, families, carers and supporters. It is not a clinical, legal or financial assessment. Program details can change, so check current arrangements with My Aged Care and the relevant provider.

Start with the help needed at home

Before looking for a service, note what has changed in daily life. A short list can help explain needs during an assessment and when discussing a support plan.

Consider noting:

  • tasks that are difficult or unsafe to do alone, such as preparing meals, dressing or moving around
  • changes in health, mobility, memory or confidence that affect daily activities
  • what happens on harder days, as well as what the person can still do independently
  • help already provided by family, friends, community groups or paid workers
  • the older person’s goals, preferences, language or cultural needs, and support they would accept.

Keep the older person involved as much as they wish. For dementia-specific routines and carer support, see our guide to dementia care at home in Adelaide.

How to request an aged care assessment

Some families still search for an “ACAT assessment.” ACAT means Aged Care Assessment Team, the former name for part of the assessment workforce. The Department says the Single Assessment System workforce replaced the former ACAT workforce on 9 December 2024. The current starting point for an aged care assessment is My Aged Care. See the Department’s Single Assessment System workforce guidance and My Aged Care’s assessment application guidance.

You can apply online, call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422, or make an in-person appointment with an Aged Care Specialist Officer at a Services Australia centre. For an in-person appointment, call 1800 227 475.

You can apply for yourself or another person. After screening, an assessment organisation contacts the person or their chosen contact to discuss needs and arrange an assessment. Assessments usually take place at home. Another location, telehealth or a phone assessment may also be used.

The assessment considers the person’s situation, needs and goals to determine what support they may be eligible to access. It does not guarantee immediate ongoing funding or a particular provider. Keep contact details current. Our guide to home care package eligibility explains who can request an assessment and which earlier package rules still apply.

Prepare for the assessment conversation

Preparing can help the older person explain daily life and ask useful questions. My Aged Care’s assessment preparation guidance suggests having relevant identification, health and current-support details ready.

Gather:

  • a Medicare card and another ID, such as a driver licence, healthcare card, passport or DVA card
  • any doctor referrals and contact details for the GP or other health professionals
  • information about current support and aged care services the person wants to discuss.

The person may choose a family member, friend, carer or registered supporter to attend. An interpreter can be requested. An advocate or care finder may also help in some situations.

Write down questions, such as:

  • What services could support the person’s goals?
  • What help is available for carers?
  • Who should they contact after the assessment?

Describe both usual and difficult days. Include support already provided by family or others. This helps the assessor understand the person’s circumstances.

Understand the decision and funding status

If a person is approved for Support at Home, the assessment organisation sends a Notice of Decision with approved services, a support plan, reasons for the decision and review rights. Read it with the older person. Contact My Aged Care if anything is unclear. The official assessment outcome guide explains how to raise concerns, including about priority or classification.

Approval for ongoing services does not mean funding is ready. Funding is allocated through the Support at Home Priority System. Two details affect its timing: the person’s priority category and approval date. Current wait estimates on the My Aged Care outcome page are guides, not promises. Check the latest estimates there.

If a letter or provider still uses older Home Care Package level wording, our guide to legacy Home Care Package level terms explains those labels under Support at Home. For the current budget attached to each of the eight ongoing classifications, see Support at Home classifications 1–8.

If the decision mentions more than one type of support, ask My Aged Care which services may be able to start first. For a broader overview of home support pathways, see the Adelaide home care services family guide.

If the decision seems to miss something important, use the review information in the letter or contact My Aged Care.

Choose a provider and agree the setup

After the person knows which services are approved and what funding is available, contact providers in their area. The My Aged Care Find a Provider tool can help identify local options. Ask providers directly whether they offer the approved services and can visit at suitable times.

Before support begins, check the written service agreement. The Department’s service agreement guidance says an agreement must be in place before or on the day services start. It should list the services, agreed prices, rights and responsibilities, and how contributions are paid. It should be written in plain language.

Ask the provider to explain:

  • which approved services are included and how often visits are planned
  • how to request a change or report a missed visit
  • which prices and contributions apply and how they appear on statements
  • the cancellation process and how to raise concerns.

Providers must publish and agree their prices. The Department says separate administration or travel fees cannot be charged. Ask for the applicable price and terms in writing before agreeing. This article does not quote provider prices. See the Department’s Support at Home pricing guidance.

From 1 October 2026, approved personal care has no participant contribution if it is included in the support plan and Support at Home funds are available. It still draws on the person’s available budget. Check the Department guidance on personal care contributions and ask the provider how the rule applies. For the other service types a Support at Home budget can pay for, see what a home care package can be spent on.

Set up the first visits and keep support under review

Before the first visit, agree on the tasks, preferred times, home access arrangements, routines and who to contact if plans change. Share personal information only with consent.

After support starts, note whether the agreed services fit the person’s routine and goals. Raise scheduling or service questions with the provider. If needs change, contact My Aged Care to ask whether a review or reassessment is appropriate.

The older person has the right to raise concerns. They or a supporter can contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission online, in writing or by phone on 1800 951 822. Contacting the provider first may help with day-to-day issues. If the person is not comfortable doing that, they can contact the Commission directly.

A practical next step

Write down the support that would make daily life safer or more manageable, then contact My Aged Care to ask about an assessment. Keep the Notice of Decision and support plan. Confirm funding status and provider arrangements in writing before services begin.

If you are exploring home support in Adelaide, review the TIMELY HEALTH ASSIST services page and contact the team. This article does not establish that THA is an approved Support at Home or CHSP provider, or that a particular service, subsidy, worker or start date is available.

If the immediate need is a break for a family carer rather than ongoing care, our guide to in-home respite care explains how the two fit together.

Frequently asked questions

Does approval mean Support at Home starts immediately?

Not necessarily. The Notice of Decision explains the assessment outcome, but ongoing funding is allocated separately through the priority system. Check current wait estimates on the My Aged Care outcome page and confirm provider availability directly.

When must a Support at Home service agreement be in place?

The Department says a written agreement must be in place before or on the day services start. Confirm the services, agreed prices and contributions in it.

Is personal care under Support at Home free from 1 October 2026?

There is no participant contribution for approved personal care delivered from then, if it is approved in the support plan and funds are available. It still uses the person’s available budget.

Where can families get independent help or advice?

The Older Persons Advocacy Network provides free, confidential and independent advocacy on 1800 700 600. For complaints about a provider, contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission on 1800 951 822.