Main types of aged care services in Australia

Some days it starts with one phone call. Mum’s had a fall. Dad’s stopped cooking. Or you’ve popped round and noticed the fridge is nearly empty and the mail’s piling up on the bench. Suddenly you’re sitting at the kitchen table at 10pm, trying to work out what “aged care” even means.

If that’s you right now, you’re not alone. Most of us don’t think about aged care until we need it, and then we need answers fast. The system can feel like a maze of acronyms, forms and waiting lists. It’s a lot to take in when you’re already worried about someone you love.

This isn’t about becoming an expert overnight. It’s about understanding the basics so you know where to start. There are three main types of aged care services in Australia. Once you get your head around those three, everything else gets a bit easier.

The Three Types, Plainly

Here’s the simple version:

1. Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) – a bit of help at home with a few everyday things.
2. Home Care – more regular, ongoing help at home. This is now called Support at Home.
3. Residential Aged Care – moving into an aged care home with care available around the clock.

Think of it like a ladder. CHSP is the bottom rung. Home care is the middle. Residential care is for when living at home just isn’t safe or workable anymore.

That’s the shape of it. Now let’s go through each one properly.

1. Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)

CHSP is the entry level of aged care. It’s for older people who are still mostly managing on their own but need a hand with a few things to keep living at home.

Most people call it CHSP, which is easier to say than the full name.

What it usually covers

CHSP services are fairly practical. Depending on what’s available in your area, it might include:

• Help with cleaning or washing
• Meals, either delivered or at a community centre
• Transport to appointments or the shops
• Gardening and small home maintenance jobs
• Some nursing care or allied health, like physio or podiatry
• Social support, like group outings or a regular visit
• Respite, so a family carer can have a break

You don’t get a set budget. You just get the specific services you’ve been assessed as needing.

Who it suits

CHSP is for people aged 65 and over, or 50 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It’s best for someone who’s doing okay overall but is starting to struggle with a couple of jobs.

It’s usually low cost. You’re generally asked to chip in a small amount towards the services you use, and it varies between providers.

One thing to keep in your back pocket: the government plans to fold CHSP into Support at Home down the track, no earlier than mid-2027. For now, it’s still running as its own program.

2. Home Care (Now Called Support at Home)

This is where things got a bit confusing recently, so let’s clear it up.

For years, this level of care was called Home Care Packages. From November 2025, it was replaced by a new program called Support at Home. You’ll still hear plenty of people, including some providers, call it “home care” or “a package.” They’re talking about the same general idea.

Support at Home is for older people with more complex needs who still want to stay in their own home. It’s a step up from CHSP.

What it usually covers

Support at Home gives you a funding level based on how much help you need. A provider works with you to organise services from that budget. That might include:

• Personal care, like help with showering, dressing and getting around
• Nursing care, like wound care or managing medications
• Allied health, like physio, occupational therapy or speech therapy
• Cleaning, meals and shopping
• Transport
• Equipment and home modifications, like grab rails or a shower chair
• Respite and social support

There are also short-term options inside Support at Home. One is restorative care, to help someone get back on their feet after a setback like a fall or a hospital stay. Others cover end-of-life care at home and help with equipment or home changes.

Who it suits

Support at Home suits someone who needs regular help, often several times a week, but still wants to live at home and can do so safely with the right support.

You’ll usually pay something towards your care. How much depends on your income and assets, and on the type of service. Clinical care, like nursing, doesn’t cost you anything. Everyday help, like cleaning and gardening, usually costs more. It’s worth asking a provider to walk you through the numbers before you sign anything.

Just be aware there can be a wait. Once you’re approved, it can take months for funding to come through. Lots of families use CHSP services to fill the gap in the meantime.

3. Residential Aged Care

Residential aged care is what most people picture when they hear the words “aged care.” It used to be called a nursing home. Now you’ll mostly hear it called an aged care home.

It’s for older people who can’t live safely at home anymore, even with support.

What it usually covers

Residential care is the full package. It usually includes:

• A room and somewhere to live
• Meals, laundry and cleaning
• Help with personal care, like showering, dressing and eating
• Access to nursing care 24 hours a day
• Help with medications and health needs
• Social activities and company

Some aged care homes also offer short stays, called residential respite. That can give a family carer a break for a few days or weeks, or give someone a chance to try it out before making a bigger decision.

Who it suits

Residential care suits people with high care needs. That might be someone with advanced dementia, serious health problems, or a high risk of falls. It also suits people whose family carers just can’t keep going on their own, which is a real and valid reason.

Costs are the trickiest part. There’s usually a basic daily fee, possible extra fees based on your income and assets, and accommodation costs that vary a lot between homes. Accommodation can be paid as a lump sum, a daily payment, or a mix of both. This is one area where getting independent financial advice is worth it.

A Quick Side-by-Side

	CHSP	Support at Home	Residential Aged Care
Where you live	Your own home	Your own home	An aged care home
Level of need	Low	Moderate to high	High
How often help comes	Now and then, or a few regular services	Regular, often several times a week	Around the clock
Typical help	Cleaning, meals, transport, gardening	Personal care, nursing, equipment, everyday help	Full care, meals, accommodation, nursing
Cost	Small contribution	Depends on income, assets and service type	Daily fees plus accommodation costs

A Few Made-Up Families to Picture It

These are fictional examples, just to show how it might play out.

Margaret in Ballarat. Margaret’s 79 and still sharp as a tack. She lives alone, does her own cooking and loves her garden. But her knees aren’t what they used to be. Mowing’s become a no-go and she’s stopped driving at night. A couple of CHSP services, like gardening help and transport to her appointments, would probably be enough. She doesn’t need much. Just a hand with the hard bits.

Ray in Townsville. Ray’s 84 and had a bad fall last year. He’s home now, but he’s unsteady on his feet and his daughter’s worried about him in the shower. He also has diabetes and sometimes gets his tablets mixed up. Ray needs regular help with personal care, some nursing and a few home changes, like grab rails. Support at Home would suit him better than CHSP. While they wait for his funding, CHSP could cover some of the basics.

Joan in Wagga Wagga. Joan’s 88 and has dementia. Her husband, Bill, has been caring for her at home for years, but she’s started wandering at night and doesn’t always recognise him. Bill’s exhausted. Even with home care coming in, it’s just not safe anymore. Residential aged care would give Joan 24-hour support and give Bill the chance to be her husband again, rather than her full-time carer.

Three different people. Three different answers. That’s how it works.

Where Do You Actually Start?

This is the bit most families get stuck on, so here’s the simple version.

Every type of government-funded aged care starts with My Aged Care. You can call them on 1800 200 422 or go to the My Aged Care website. You can make the call yourself or do it on behalf of someone you love, as long as they’re okay with it.

They’ll ask some questions and, if needed, organise an assessment. An assessor usually visits at home and has a chat about what’s going on, what’s getting harder and what kind of help would make a difference. Based on that, they’ll work out which type of care fits.

You don’t have to figure out the right service on your own beforehand. That’s what the assessment is for.

A few tips that make it easier:

• Write things down before the assessment. Falls, missed meals, forgotten tablets. It’s easy to forget on the day.
• Be honest. Lots of older people play things down because they don’t want a fuss. The assessor needs the real picture.
• Have someone there. A family member or friend can help remember details and ask questions.
• Ask about costs early. It’s much easier than getting a surprise later.

The Main Takeaway

Aged care in Australia comes down to three main types. CHSP is for a little help at home. Support at Home, which most people still call home care, is for more regular help at home. Residential aged care is for when someone needs care around the clock.

You don’t need to have it all worked out today. Just start with a call to My Aged Care, get the assessment done and take it one step at a time.

It’s hard watching someone you love need more help. We get it. But the right support can make life safer, calmer and a little easier, for them and for you.