Australia is moving towards in-home support – what it means for your family

If you’re in the position of helping a parent navigate the aged care system, you may have noticed a shift towards in-home support in recent years. Many people are choosing to stay in their own homes longer and receive support surrounded by the people they love in a familiar environment, rather than choose residential care.

So, what does this mean for you and your family?

Feeling safer with in-home support

Home is more than just a house – it represents comfort, identity and for many older Australians, it means independence too. Many people prefer to spend their later years in their own community with familiar routines, family, friends, pets, and memories.

For your parent, this can mean:

• staying in familiar surroundings;
• keeping control over their daily routines;
• feeling more confident and less anxious; and
• remaining connected to community and family.

For you, it can mean peace of mind knowing they’re not facing the emotional upheaval of moving somewhere new, while still receiving the support to make their life better.

Personalised and flexible support

Traditional aged care facilities are built around structured schedules and shared staffing. In contrast, in‑home care focuses on tailored, one‑on‑one support delivered when and how your parent prefers.

That might look like:

• morning help with showering;
• support with meal preparation;
• medication reminders; and
• support with shopping or social outings.

This flexibility allows you to ‘fill in the gaps’ rather than hand over all responsibility. It means you can stay involved in ways that feel meaningful to you – preventing you from burning out trying to do everything alone. It means that when you spend time with your parent, you can truly connect as family, rather than purely in a caring capacity.

The system is changing to accommodate in-home support

Government reform is a major driver of this shift. Funding is increasingly being directed toward Support at Home to help older people live safely at home for longer.

You can read more about Support at Home funding here.

This means you have:

• more choices in providers (please always do your due diligence and choose a registered provider);
• more control over how funds are used; and
• increased transparency and quality safeguards.

Avivo is fully registered and accredited with qualified and experienced Support Workers who have the backing of a supportive organisation.

We’ve been around for almost 60 years, putting the needs of our customers at the heart of everything we do.

In-home support doesn’t need to be daunting

Unlike moving to a residential facility, which can seem overwhelming to both the customer and their family, in-home support is a smaller step to receiving support. Supports can start off small and simple and can be adjusted, along with funding, as your parent’s needs increase.

You can avoid any sudden or stressful decisions around support and location when the Support Worker is coming to your parent’s home. Your parent and your family as a whole can adjust and welcome in the new support model.

Our Support Workers are often labeled as ‘part of the family’ as customers and their families become more familiar with one another, just like our customer Myrna.

Reasons you might choose in-home support

If you’re still unsure and looking for the pros and cons of in-home vs. residential support for your parent, you might choose in‑home support if:

• your parent values independence;
• they want to stay near family, friends, or pets;
• you want to remain involved in their care, but not overwhelmed;
• their care needs can be safely managed at home; and
• you want more control over who provides their care and when.

Ultimately, choosing in‑home support is about honouring your parent’s preferences while supporting your own wellbeing as a caregiver.

It allows your parent to live life on their terms, and helps you feel confident you’re making the best possible decisions for them.

If you’d like to learn more about in-home support or Support at Home funding, Avivo can help.

Contact us now on 1300 428 486 or email hello@avivo.org.au.