Talking Aged Care

03/09/2026

Some welcome relief for household budgets: single pensioners will get an extra $36.80 a fortnight (up to $1,237.70), and couples an extra $55.60 combined (up to $1,866.00). Rent Assistance and JobSeeker are also rising.
COTA Australia's Patricia Sparrow says it won't fix everything, but "when household budgets are stretched this tightly, every dollar counts."
Deeming rates are also nudging up from 20 September, so it's worth checking whether your savings and term deposits are actually earning at or above the new benchmark rates.
Read about it here 👇

Age Pension rates rise from 20 September, with extra support for renters and jobseekers too. Here’s what’s...

01/09/2026

CHSP is here to stay 🎉

Big news for older Australians and their families: the Commonwealth Home Support Program won't be merged into Support at Home after all. The government has confirmed CHSP will run independently until at least 30 June 2029, after providers and communities pushed back on plans to fold it in.

Minister Sam Rae put it simply: "You told us that folding it into a program built for something else would break the parts of CHSP that work best. We agree with you."

Community consultations on what comes next kick off next month.

Read about it here 👇

The Commonwealth Home Support Program will stay independent until at least 2029, rather than merging into Support at...

26/08/2026

Choosing between home care, a retirement village or residential aged care can feel overwhelming, but a few simple habits make it easier.

Start with the person's actual needs, not the brochure. Visit in person around mealtime. Ask whether care staff are permanent or largely agency. And don't be afraid to keep your shortlist short, four or five options is plenty.

If you're just starting to look into aged care for someone you love, here's where to begin 👇

Choosing between home care, a retirement village or residential aged care can feel overwhelming. Here’s what to...

25/08/2026

A Four Corners investigation, "The Waiting Game," has revealed how a software algorithm, not clinicians, now decides how much in-home aged care funding older Australians receive. Case studies include a 96-year-old blind woman whose funding stayed unchanged for 12 years, and a family who waited close to six months for shower rails and a ramp.

The government points to shorter assessment wait times. Four Corners found the median wait from application to actually receiving approved care is ten months, with more than 4,800 people dying in 2024-25 while waiting for funding they'd already been approved for.

Read what the investigation uncovered 👇

A Four Corners investigation examined the algorithm now deciding aged care funding levels, and the long waits, appeals...

23/08/2026

If you or someone you love has motor neurone disease, this is worth knowing: MND now qualifies for urgent priority access to Support at Home funding, meaning support can arrive within about a month instead of a long wait.

The change applies retrospectively too, so people already assessed and waiting are moved to the front of the queue. Here's what changed, who it applies to, and the exact steps to get or confirm your priority 👉

Motor neurone disease now qualifies for urgent priority under Support at Home. Here’s what changed, who it applies...

23/07/2026

Ask an older person what really keeps them independent, and the answer often isn't a care plan. It's a lift. A ride to the doctor, the shops, a friend's place. Without it, everything else starts to fall away.

Community transport rarely makes headlines, but it often holds the rest of aged care together. As funding reforms continue, the people who run these services say the future isn't entirely clear.

The good news: if you or someone you care for relies on community transport, nothing is changing yet. These services continue as usual until at least mid-2027.

The longer story is worth watching, especially in regional and remote areas where alternatives are few.

Read about it here 👉

For older people who’ve stopped driving, a ride to the doctor or shops can mean everything. As aged care funding...

21/07/2026

Heads up: on Monday 27 July 2026, Australia will test its new emergency alert system, AusAlert, so don't be alarmed if your phone (or even landline) suddenly blares a loud siren-like sound.

AusAlert sends near-instant warnings straight to your mobile, tablet or smartwatch during emergencies like bushfires, severe weather and public health events. It cuts through silent mode and "do not disturb" so you never miss a critical alert.

The best part? You don't need to do anything to set it up. No app, no registration, no personal details required.

Test times vary by state, and if the sound feels distressing, you can switch to aeroplane mode for the duration.

Read about it here 👉

A national test of AusAlert’s emergency system hits Australian phones on 27 July. Here’s what older...

21/07/2026

For many families, keeping a loved one home at the end of life matters more than anything. Right now, access to end-of-life care support can depend on a prognosis of less than three months, which is often hard to predict, especially for people living with dementia, frailty or other progressive conditions.

A Senate committee has recommended removing those fixed time and funding limits, in favour of care based on a person's actual needs. Ageing Australia and Palliative Care Australia have both welcomed the recommendation as a step towards a more flexible, compassionate system.

It's not policy yet, but it's a hopeful sign for families hoping to care for someone at home.

Read about it here 👉

15/07/2026

There's a new fee showing up on aged care home price lists: HELF.

It covers "premium" extras: better meals, in-room TV, Wi-Fi, and it's optional. But optional doesn't always mean simple: prices vary home to home, room to room, and not every provider explains it clearly upfront.

Before you sign anything, there are a few questions worth asking.

Read about it here 👉

The Higher Everyday Living Fee, or HELF, is a new optional fee that lets aged care residents pay for a more premium...

12/07/2026

Waiting months for government aged care funding? You may not have to.

One family called on a Monday. Care started that Friday. No funding approval, no waiting list, just support when it was needed.

It's why more Australian families are turning to private care, either as a bridge while they wait, or as their main option altogether.
Callum McMillan from Just Better Care breaks down why it's becoming so common, and what to look for if you're considering it.

Read about it here 👉

As wait times for government-subsidised aged care grow, more families are turning to private care for immediate,...