Showering, Dressing and Personal Care Will Be Fully Funded Under Support at Home: What It Means for Older Australians

From 1 October 2026, eligible older Australians receiving Support at Home will no longer have to pay out-of-pocket for approved personal care services such as showering, dressing and non-clinical continence support.

This is an important change.

For many people, help with showering or getting dressed is not an optional extra. It is the difference between staying clean, feeling safe, avoiding falls, maintaining dignity and being able to keep living at home.

The Australian Government has now confirmed that personal care will move into the clinical supports category under Support at Home, meaning it can be fully funded for people who have personal care approved in their support plan and have available Support at Home funding.

What is changing?

Under the original Support at Home model, some personal care services sat in a category where older people may have been expected to make a co-contribution.

That caused concern for older people, families, advocates and providers.

The concern was simple: if people had to pay extra for help with showering, some would reduce or avoid that care. SBS reported concerns from advocates that older people were already sacrificing showers or having fewer showers because of cost pressures.

The government has now changed course.

From 1 October 2026, approved personal care services will be treated as essential supports and fully funded through Support at Home.

These services include:

• showering

• dressing

• non-clinical continence management

The change does not apply to services delivered before 1 October 2026.

Why this matters for older Australians

This change matters because personal care is often one of the first supports people need when living at home becomes harder.

For some people, it might be help getting safely in and out of the shower.

For others, it may be help with dressing, hygiene, continence routines or feeling confident starting the day.

These supports may sound simple, but they can have a major impact on quality of life.

When personal care is affordable and reliable, people are more likely to:

• stay clean and comfortable

• reduce the risk of falls or accidents

• avoid embarrassment or distress

• maintain routines

• stay healthier at home

• reduce pressure on family carers

• delay or avoid moving into residential aged care

In plain English: this change helps protect dignity.

What it means for current Support at Home consumers

If you are already receiving Support at Home, this change may reduce future out-of-pocket costs if personal care is included in your approved support plan.

However, there are a few important points to understand.

• First, the change starts from 1 October 2026.

• Second, personal care must be approved in your support plan.

• Third, you still need to have available Support at Home funding for the service.

This means it is not simply a blanket promise that every person can receive unlimited showering or dressing support for free. The support still needs to be assessed, approved and included in your plan.

But for people who are approved for personal care, the removal of out-of-pocket costs is a meaningful improvement.

What it means for people applying in the future

For people who may need home care in the future, this change makes the system a little easier to understand.

If you or someone you care about needs help with personal care, it is important to raise this clearly during the aged care assessment process.

Do not minimise the need.

If showering, dressing or continence support is becoming difficult, unsafe or stressful, say so clearly. These supports can now be treated as essential care under Support at Home, rather than something people may avoid because of cost.

This may be especially important for people who are:

• becoming frailer

• recovering after hospital

• living alone

• relying heavily on family carers

• at risk of falls

• struggling with continence

• avoiding showers because they feel unsafe

The assessment process matters because it helps determine what support is included in your plan.

This does not solve every problem in home care

This is a good change, but it does not fix everything.

There are still major challenges in the aged care system, including assessment delays, waiting lists and the difficulty many families face when trying to understand what support is available.

SBS reported that long waits remain a serious issue, including people waiting for assessments and access to home support services.

So while fully funding personal care is a step forward, families still need clear information, good advice and practical support when navigating the system.

What families should do now

If you or someone close to you needs help at home, this is a good reminder to review the support that is actually needed.

Ask practical questions:

Can the person shower safely?

Are they avoiding showers because they feel unsteady?

Are they wearing the same clothes for longer because dressing is hard?

Is continence becoming harder to manage?

Is a family member providing personal care because paid support feels too expensive?

These are not small issues. They are often signs that more formal support may be needed.

If personal care is required, it should be discussed clearly during assessment, care planning and provider conversations.

The bottom line

The decision to fully fund personal care under Support at Home is a positive change for older Australians.

It recognises that help with showering, dressing and continence care is not a luxury. It is basic care. It supports health, safety, independence and dignity.

For current and future consumers, the key message is this:

If personal care is needed, it should be clearly raised, properly assessed and included in the support plan where appropriate.

Because staying at home is not just about having services on paper.

It is about having the right support in place to live safely, comfortably and with dignity.

Local Home Help Navigator - www.localhomehelp.com.au