Help at home — the basics

• Help with cleaning, laundry and shopping
• Personal care — showering, dressing, grooming
• Meals on Wheels and other meal services
• Home maintenance and small modifications
• Transport to medical appointments and shopping
• Social support — visits, group outings
• Allied health (physio, podiatry, dietetics) on a limited basis
• Short-term respite for the person or their carer

CHSP services are heavily subsidised by the government, but most people pay a small fee — often a few dollars per service. Providers are required to be transparent about the fees up front, and to never refuse service if you genuinely cannot pay.

Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422, or apply online — the online application takes 10 to 15 minutes and you'll need a Medicare card. You don't ask for a particular type of assessment any more; one assessment covers everything. It is free, and an assessor usually visits you at home. Afterwards you’ll be referred to local providers — and you choose.