Support for people with disability or mental ill-health
If you are living with a disability or mental ill-health, it’s important you get aged care support that meets your needs.
Whether you need help at home, or you care for someone who does, there are services that offer care and support.
If you need extra support, you may be eligible for aged care.
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Aged care is changing
The new Aged Care Act is an important reform that embeds the right for you to:
- access culturally safe, trauma-aware and healing-informed assessments and aged care services
- have your identity, culture, spirituality and diversity valued and supported
- stay connected to your community and significant people in your life.
Find out more about how aged care reforms will impact you.
Can I get aged care that caters for my needs?
All providers must recognise your individual needs and values. You have the right to live the life you choose, make decisions about your aged care services, and get support when you want or need it. Aged care providers must explain your aged care services in a way that you understand.
You can access government-funded aged care services if you have care needs and are at least one of the following:
- aged 65 years and over
- an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person aged 50 years and older
- homeless or at risk of homelessness and aged 50 years and older
- already living in an aged care home or accessing aged care services.
You have the right to receive safe, high-quality care and services and to be treated with dignity and respect. Government-funded care should value your identity, culture, and background.
Some providers tailor their practices, staff and organisation to meet the needs of specific groups. This includes older people with a disability or mental illness.
You can also identify providers that offer specialised care in the Find a provider tool. To help narrow your search, use the specialised care filter to find and compare providers that offer the care you need.
What services can I get?
What services you can get also depends on your situation and needs. In most cases, you need to be assessed before you can begin accessing services. These can include:
- the Support at Home program – for support delivered to you at home
- respite care – to give you or your carer a break, or if your normal carer isn’t available
- the Commonwealth Home Support Program – for lower-level care needs at home
- aged care homes – if you can no longer safely live at home.
If eligible, you may also be able to access the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme, through the Support at Home program. This scheme gives you upfront funding for products, equipment and home modifications to make your home safer or more accessible.
Australia's aged care services are not meant for people younger than 65. Learn more about support for younger people in aged care.
What if I already receive disability support?
If you started receiving National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) services before turning 65 (or before 50, where applicable), you can continue to receive services through them once you cross that age, but you must have been accepted before that age.
You cannot access aged care services through the Support at Home program or the Commonwealth Home Support Program if you're still receiving services through the NDIS. If you move into an aged care home for the first time after you turn 65, you can no longer be an NDIS participant.
Talk to your disability support provider or coordinator about your options.
If you were over 65 (or over 50, where applicable) when the NDIS was initially rolled out in your area, you may have been accepted into the Disability Support for Older Australians (DSOA) program on 1 July 2021. DSOA is not open to new clients.
How do I find a provider that is right for me?
Whether you’re looking for help at home or considering moving into an aged care home, My Aged Care can help you find and access a range of aged care services.
The first step is to apply for an assessment. You can register for an assessment online. My Aged Care or a support service can help you with this process.
Your assessor will visit you to chat about your goals and needs. They will confirm what services you are eligible for and may suggest local providers that can help you.
Some providers listed in the Find a provider tool have been verified as delivering care and services that meet specific needs of people from specific backgrounds or life experiences. These providers have undergone a process that validates their claims as a provider of specialised care and services.
Specialisation Verification helps you to be confident that their claims of specialised care have been verified by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing using the Specialisation Verification Framework.
What questions can I ask aged care providers?
When you're starting to think about aged care or are talking to a provider for the first time, it's good to think about the kind of care you would like.
Preparing some questions to ask providers when you meet with them can be very helpful. You can take your loved ones, carers, supporters, or anyone you trust with you to these meetings. Some example questions are included below.
These and more questions can be found on the 10 Questions to Ask website. While they focus on questions you can ask when looking for an aged care home, most of them work for receiving help at home services as well.
Who can help me access aged care?
There are many ways to get some help to access aged care, if you want it. This includes speaking to someone who understands your background and experiences. There is a network of free services available that can provide advice and support at every step along the way.
What support is available for carers?
If you are caring for someone with a disability, short-term and emergency respite services are available. For emergency respite care, contact Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737. You can find out more about services to support carers on the Carer Gateway website.
Learn more about information, resources and support for carers.
What if I have concerns about my care?
If you are made to feel unsafe or uncomfortable, are denied a service, or have a concern about your rights, you should tell someone. This could be your aged care provider, a staff member, a friend, family member, an aged care or disability advocate, or anyone you trust.
Learn more about your rights.
You also have the right to raise your concern or make a complaint with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. Doing this shouldn't affect your support services. Discuss the issue with your service provider first, as it may be something they can resolve. You have the right to stop services at any time.
If you are not comfortable talking to your provider, the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) provides free advocacy services.
Learn more about raising complaints and concerns.
Useful resources and contacts
The following services and programs may be able to help.
If you need to talk to someone urgently, contact:
- Lifeline on 13 11 14
- 13 YARN (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)
- MensLine on 1300 78 99 78
In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
Or visit the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website for more support services.
Disability Support for Older Australians (DSOA) Program
The DSOA program supports older people who were not eligible for the NDIS. It replaced the Commonwealth Continuity of Support Programme in 2021. It is not accepting new applications.
Australia's National Equipment Database (NED)
NED offer a range of products, equipment, and guides to help you decide which one best suits your needs.
Disability Gateway
Disability Gateway assists people with a disability, and their families and carers, to find and access trusted information and services. You can visit the Disability Gateway website or call 1800 643 787 for more information.
National Sign Language Program (NSLP)
The NSLP provides free sign language interpreting and captioning services for older people.
Medicare Mental Health
Medicare Mental Health can connect you with information, mental health professionals, and other supports.
Disability Advocacy
National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP) provides people with disability access to effective advocacy support. This support works to promote and protect the rights of people with disability by helping to remove barriers to their full and equal participation in the community.
Other non-NDIS support services
The NDIS provides a list of government and community support services for people with disability who aren’t eligible for NDIS.
Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS)
This scheme supports volunteer visits, providing friendship and companionship if you're feeling isolated. Visits are available to anyone who receives government-funded aged care services.