Are you wondering if you can get some help with day-to-day tasks around the house? Maybe you need some respite care while your family or carer is away? Or perhaps it’s time to look into aged care homes. There are many services that can help you maintain a good quality of life as you get older.
If you are just starting out on your aged care journey, this is the section for you. Here we aim to answer your questions and guide you through what you need to do.
Discover what type of care might suit you
Help at home
As you get older, living independently in your own home can become more difficult. If you’re finding it harder to do the things you used to, you can ask for some help.
Short-term care
Maybe you need some help after a hospital stay, or support if your regular family carer is taking a holiday. Short-term care can help you cope with life’s interruptions.
Aged care homes
You might be at a stage where you no longer feel able to live independently at home, even with carer support or home care services to help you. If that’s the case, it may be time to consider moving into an aged care home.
My Aged Care in 4 steps
Need some help?
I have questions
If you need some help, the My Aged Care team can answer most of your questions over the phone.
Call 1800 200 422
An advocate for my rights
Advocacy services ensure that the rights of anyone receiving or seeking aged care services are supported. They also make it easier to make decisions about care.
Someone to talk on my behalf
A friend or a family member can speak on your behalf by becoming your representative.
Read more about representatives
Support for all
Information and support is available to help people of all backgrounds, languages and situations to access the help they need. This includes LGBTI, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, veterans, and more.
New to aged care?
Wondering what My Aged Care is or how to get started?
Diana and Ignatius' experience
Watch how Diana and Ignatius found the right services for them.
DIANA: My name is Diana. I was born on the 27th of February, 1925, that makes me 91 years old.
IGNATIUS: My name is Ignatius. I’m 94 years old. Diana and I were married on the 7th of October 1950 and we’ve been having a lot of fun in that time.
DIANA: But some years ago, I thought we needed some help, so I tried ringing the government aged care and arranged an appointment, and two ladies came and interviewed us. Within a month or so we began to get home care. Blanche is always ready to help us. She does all the cleaning and hoovering and the toilets and things.
IGNATIUS: Sometimes we have to see the doctor, so Blanche takes us right to the doctor’s premises and comes in with us and sits in there while we wait for the doctor. We have this wonderful opportunity of being at home.
DIANA: We have all the conveniences, if we didn’t have the support, I think, our lives would have been so restricted. It changed our lives.