Care type
In-home care
Most Australians who need help want it at home. In-home care covers everything from an hour of help with showering to daily support, overnight cover and in-home nursing.
Written and reviewed by the My Caregiver editorial team · Last reviewed September 2026 · Editorial policy
What in-home care usually includes
- Personal care — showering, dressing, grooming, continence support.
- Domestic assistance — cleaning, laundry, changing linen, shopping.
- Meal support — planning, preparation and help at mealtimes.
- Mobility and transfers — safe movement, including equipment where trained.
- Nursing at home — delivered by a nurse, arranged separately from care work.
- Social support — company, outings and staying connected.
- Overnight support — sleepover or active night shifts, depending on need.
Designing the week
Two households with identical hours can have very different experiences depending on how those hours are arranged. A few practical patterns:
- Anchor the hard parts. Put support where the day genuinely breaks down — usually the morning routine and the evening wind-down.
- Fewer, longer visits are easier to staff. Three short visits spread across a day are harder to roster than one longer block, especially outside inner suburbs.
- Protect one predictable break for the family carer. A fixed weekly slot beats an occasional ad-hoc one.
Get the first shift set up properly
Before the first visit
- Agree the exact tasks for each shift, in writing
- Confirm entry arrangements — keys, lockbox, doorbell, who is home
- Set up a simple communication method: notebook, app or a weekly call
- Clarify what the worker cannot do, so nobody is put in an awkward position
- Check insurance and cover arrangements, especially for private hires
- Book a short review two to four weeks in
Provider or private hire?
An approved or agency provider brings rostering, supervision, backup cover and insurance, at a higher hourly cost. Hiring privately is usually cheaper per hour but the responsibility for cover, insurance and tax sits with you. We compare both in caregiver vs home care provider.
Common questions
What is the shortest visit most providers will do?
One hour is a common minimum, and some providers set a two-hour minimum, particularly on weekends or in outer suburbs and regional areas. Ask about minimum shift length early — it changes how you design a weekly routine.
Can in-home care include nursing?
Yes, but usually through a registered or enrolled nurse rather than a care worker. If wound care, injections or complex medication management is needed, confirm who provides it, how often, and how it is charged.
What is the difference between live-in care and overnight care?
Overnight care generally means a worker is present for a set night shift, either sleeping over and available if needed, or awake and actively supporting. Live-in arrangements are ongoing and have different cost and employment implications. Ask exactly which model is being quoted.
Do we need to change anything about the house?
Often small things help: clear paths, good lighting, a shower chair, grab rails or a bed at a workable height. An occupational therapist can advise on what is worth doing, and some equipment may be funded depending on your program.
Last reviewed September 2026. General information only — not medical, legal or financial advice.