Learn about reassessment, interim funding, temporary private care and ways to get help at home sooner.
- Check your funding priority:
People approved for Support at Home are assigned a priority category based on their assessed circumstances.
The categories are urgent, high, medium and standard.
Your priority category affects how funding is allocated and how long you may wait.
If your circumstances have changed since your assessment, contact My Aged Care to explain what has happened and ask whether a reassessment is appropriate.
For example, a hospital admission, significant deterioration in mobility or increasing difficulty managing daily activities may mean your current assessment no longer reflects your needs.
A reassessment does not guarantee earlier funding, but it can help ensure your current circumstances are considered.
- Understand interim funding:
Some people waiting for Support at Home may receive interim funding.
This can allow essential services to begin before their full approved budget becomes available.
Interim funding is not automatically available to everyone.
If it is offered, you can work with a provider to determine which approved services are most important within the available budget.
For current information about waiting times and interim funding, visit the My Aged Care website or call 1800 200 422.
- Consider temporary private home care:
If care is needed before government funding becomes available, private home care may be an option.
Private care is arranged directly between the individual or family and the provider.
It does not require a government-funded care package.
Depending on your circumstances, private care can provide assistance with personal care, meals, mobility, companionship, overnight support or more substantial daily needs.
Some families arrange private care temporarily while waiting for funding.
Others choose to continue with a combination of private and government-funded services once their funding becomes available.
At Reliant Healthcare, we provide private home care that can be adjusted as needs change.
- Plan ahead if someone is leaving hospital:
Hospital discharge can create an immediate need for additional care.
Someone may be medically ready to return home but still require assistance with showering, dressing, mobility, meals or medication routines.
The support required in the first few days may also be different from what is needed longer term.
Where possible, speak with the hospital discharge team before the person returns home.
Ask what assistance will be needed, what services are being arranged and who will coordinate care after discharge.
You can also explore Reliant Healthcare's Rapid Response Care services if additional help at home is needed.
- Understand that care needs can change:
Not everyone waiting for Support at Home requires substantial ongoing assistance.
Some people need only occasional support.
Others may have changing or complex health needs that require more intensive care.
If regular visits are no longer sufficient, it may be worth exploring 24-hour home care in Sydney, including overnight and round-the-clock support.
The aim is to find an arrangement that is appropriate for the person's circumstances, rather than assuming one level of care will suit everyone.
Understanding aged-care funding can be complicated, particularly when someone needs help urgently.
You do not need to know exactly what services are required before speaking with a care provider.
At Reliant Healthcare, we help families understand their options and explore practical arrangements for care at home.
Whether you are waiting for Support at Home funding, organising care after hospitalisation or considering private support, our team can help you work through the next steps.
