Care type
Aged care caregivers
Most families start looking when small things stop working — a missed medication, a fall, a fridge that keeps emptying too slowly. Here is how aged care support is arranged in Australia and what a caregiver can realistically do.
Written and reviewed by the My Caregiver editorial team · Last reviewed September 2026 · Editorial policy
When families usually start looking
The trigger is rarely a single dramatic event. It is more often a slow accumulation: showering becomes risky, meals become toast, the house gets harder to manage, and one family member quietly absorbs more and more of it. Getting help early — a couple of hours a week — is usually easier than waiting for a crisis and then arranging everything at once.
What an aged care caregiver does
- Personal care — showering, dressing, grooming, toileting and continence support.
- Domestic assistance — cleaning, laundry, linen, shopping and meal preparation.
- Mobility support — transfers, walking practice and safe movement around the home.
- Medication prompting — reminders and support, within the limits of their role.
- Transport — to medical appointments, the shops or social activities.
- Social support — company, conversation and getting out of the house.
Clinical work — wound care, injections, catheter management, complex medication administration — is normally provided by a registered or enrolled nurse rather than a care worker. If nursing is needed, confirm early who provides it and how it is funded.
Subsidised support versus private help
Government-subsidised aged care requires an assessment, and the support you receive is matched to assessed need. It generally costs the household less, but there is a process to work through and, for some support levels, a wait.
Private support has no assessment and no waiting list. You choose the person or agency and pay the full cost. Many families use it as a bridge while an assessment is in progress, or as a top-up for hours a package does not stretch to.
Check current eligibility and fee information directly
Choosing an aged care provider or caregiver
Worth confirming before care starts
- Whether the organisation is an approved provider, if you are using subsidised care
- Which suburbs and hours they genuinely cover, including weekends
- How they roster — the likelihood of seeing the same worker each visit
- What happens when your regular caregiver is on leave or unwell
- The complete fee schedule, including any management or exit fees
- How care plans are written, reviewed and shared with the family
- How to raise a concern and what happens after you do
For a fuller process, read how to choose a caregiver and take our interview checklist to the first meeting.
Look after the family carer too
In most households one person carries the load. Planned respite care is not a luxury or an admission of failure — it is the thing that keeps a long-term arrangement sustainable. Book it before you need it.
Common questions
What does an aged care caregiver actually do?
Typically a mix of personal care such as showering, dressing and grooming; domestic help such as cleaning, laundry, shopping and meals; medication prompting; mobility support; transport to appointments; and social support. Clinical tasks such as wound care usually require a registered nurse.
Do we need an assessment before care can start?
For government-subsidised aged care, yes — an assessment determines eligibility and the level of support. If you are paying privately you can arrange help without any assessment, which is why many families start with a few private hours while an assessment is underway.
Is home care always cheaper than residential aged care?
Not always. Home care is usually more cost-effective at lower support levels. As hours increase, especially overnight or around-the-clock support, the comparison narrows. Look at the total weekly cost of the care actually needed rather than an hourly rate.
Can we keep the same caregiver over time?
Continuity is possible but not guaranteed. Ask each provider how they roster, how often clients see the same worker, and what happens during leave. Consistency matters more for older people than most other factors families compare.
Last reviewed September 2026. General information only — not medical, legal or financial advice.