Does home care offer specialised dementia therapies (e.g., sensory rooms, music therapy)?

Does home care offer specialised dementia therapies, such as sensory activities or music therapy?

Yes. Support at Home can fund some specialised dementia therapies and tailored activities where they address an assessed need and are included in the person’s approved support plan.

Possible supports may include:

• music therapy

• art therapy

• occupational therapy

• counselling or psychotherapy

• diversional therapy

• cognitive and memory strategies

• sensory-based activities

• tailored exercise or movement programs

• environmental assessment and modification

• dementia-specific social engagement.

The official Support at Home service list includes music therapists under clinical allied health and therapeutic services. It also includes art therapists and diversional therapists under therapeutic services for independent living.

What is music therapy?

Music therapy is more than playing favourite songs during a support visit.

A formal music therapy program is designed and delivered by a qualified music therapist to achieve specific therapeutic goals.

For a person living with dementia, it may be used to support:

• communication and engagement

• mood and emotional expression

• reduced anxiety or distress

• memory and reminiscence

• movement and physical activity

• social connection

• settling during personal care or evening routines.

Music can also be used informally by family members and support workers. Familiar songs, singing and movement may help create connection or comfort, but this should not automatically be described or charged as professional music therapy. Dementia Australia identifies music and dance therapy among non-drug approaches that may assist some people living with dementia.

Can Support at Home fund music therapy?

Potentially, yes.

Music therapy may be funded where:

• it is connected to an assessed age-related or dementia-related need

• it supports the person’s safety, function, cognition or wellbeing

• it appears on the person’s approved service list

• it is included in the care plan and individualised budget

• it is provided by an appropriately qualified or accredited professional

• sufficient funding is available.

Music therapy appears under the clinical allied health and therapeutic service category in the Support at Home service list. Clinical supports are fully government funded, meaning the participant pays no contribution when the service is approved and delivered within the available budget.

“No contribution” does not mean unlimited therapy. The full agreed price is still paid from the person’s available Support at Home funding.

What are sensory-based therapies?

Sensory approaches use sound, touch, movement, light, scent or familiar objects to support comfort, engagement or emotional regulation.

They might include:

• handling familiar fabrics or household objects

• tactile activity boards

• familiar music and recorded voices

• calming lighting

• gentle movement

• hand massage

• gardening and nature-based activities

• personalised memory boxes

• safe aromatherapy where clinically appropriate

• structured multi-sensory sessions.

Dementia Australia lists multi-sensory therapy, music and dance therapy, animal-assisted therapy and light massage among non-pharmacological approaches that may be considered for dementia.

These approaches should be personalised. A stimulus that calms one person may confuse, irritate or distress another.

Can Support at Home pay for a sensory room?

Usually not as a generic room installation simply because someone has dementia.

A traditional sensory room may involve specialised lighting, sound systems, wall panels, projectors, furniture and other equipment. Support at Home is not a general renovation or lifestyle-purchase fund.

However, parts of a sensory or environmental approach may be considered where an occupational therapist or another qualified professional identifies a specific functional or safety need.

For example, an approved plan might involve:

• improved lighting to reduce shadows and confusion

• visual signs or environmental cues

• safer furniture placement

• equipment supporting calming or meaningful activity

• an occupational therapy-designed sensory routine

• minor home modifications addressing an assessed need.

Any equipment or home modification would need to comply with the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications rules, be clinically justified where required and be approved before purchase.

A provider should not promise to build a “sensory room” from the ordinary quarterly care budget without first confirming that each item is permitted and approved.

What role can occupational therapy play?

An occupational therapist can assess how dementia affects the person’s daily activities and home environment.

They may recommend:

• changes to lighting and noise

• clearer signs and visual prompts

• memory aids

• simplified room layouts

• meaningful activity routines

• safer kitchen or bathroom arrangements

• strategies for dressing, meals or personal care

• equipment that supports independence

• sensory approaches suited to the individual.

Support at Home allied health services can address physical, sensory, cognitive, psychological and social needs and must align with the person’s assessed support plan.

What is diversional therapy?

Diversional therapy uses individually chosen activities to support wellbeing, identity, engagement and social connection.

For someone living with dementia, this might involve:

• gardening

• cooking-related activities

• music and singing

• art and craft

• reminiscence

• familiar household tasks

• culturally meaningful activities

• movement or gentle exercise

• community participation.

The Support at Home service list allows a qualified diversional therapist to design or facilitate tailored recreation programs that support social, psychological and physical wellbeing.

This is different from paying for entertainment tickets, hobby supplies or memberships. Ordinary participation costs are generally not funded merely because an activity is enjoyable.

Can an ordinary support worker deliver the program?

Sometimes, under appropriate professional supervision.

A qualified therapist may design a treatment or activity program and then train an allied health assistant or support worker to help implement it where this is safe and appropriate. The professional should remain responsible for supervision, review and adjustment of the program.

For example, a music therapist might:

1. assess the person’s history, preferences and responses

2. develop a personalised music program

3. show family members and workers how to use it

4. review whether it is reducing distress or improving engagement.

The provider should not charge the professional therapy rate every time an ordinary support worker plays a playlist.

Do all providers offer these services?

No.

Support at Home providers choose which approved services they offer. They are not required to employ every type of therapist. A provider may use a qualified third-party therapist, but the registered provider remains responsible for ensuring that the service is compliant, safe and suitable.

When comparing providers, ask:

• Do you offer music, art or diversional therapy?

• Is the therapist directly employed or subcontracted?

• What qualifications or accreditation do they hold?

• Is the service available in my area?

• Does it appear on my approved service list?

• Is it treated as a clinical or independence service?

• What is the full price?

• Will a participant contribution apply?

• Can the therapist train regular workers or family members?

• How will outcomes be measured and reviewed?

• Can you arrange an occupational therapy environmental assessment?

• What happens if the person becomes distressed during sensory activities?

Warning signs

Be cautious if a provider:

• calls ordinary music listening “music therapy”

• cannot identify the therapist’s qualifications

• offers a generic dementia activity package without assessing the person

• promises expensive sensory equipment before checking eligibility

• uses stimulation without monitoring whether it increases distress

• cannot explain the therapeutic goal

• charges professional rates for activities delivered only by an unqualified support worker

• treats therapy as entertainment rather than part of an individual care plan.

Practical example

A person living with dementia becomes anxious during late-afternoon personal care and has largely stopped communicating with workers.

An approved plan might include:

• assessment by a qualified music therapist

• creation of a playlist based on personally meaningful music

• training for the regular support workers

• use of the music before and during personal care

• review of whether distress and resistance decrease.

The therapist’s assessment and treatment may be funded as a clinical support. Regular workers may then use the agreed strategy as part of the person’s ordinary care.

What should I do next?

Confirm the details with My Aged Care or the relevant provider, write down your questions and ask for important information in writing before making a decision.

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