When you or your loved one needs support, waiting can be hard. How quickly care starts depends mainly on how your care is funded and the support you need. It also depends on what the local team can offer at the times that matter to you.
This guide explains what affects the start date, and how to talk about visit times so the arrangement fits your day.
If you are waiting for Support at Home funding
After your assessment, My Aged Care will tell you what you have been approved for. Funding for ongoing services is then allocated through a priority system, based on your priority category and the date you were approved. My Aged Care publishes current estimated wait times for each priority category.
Funding is allocated separately for each approved service, so you can start one service as soon as its funding is available. You then have 56 days from the date of your funding letter to sign a service agreement and start services. You can ask My Aged Care for a 28-day extension if you need more time.
If you need care while you wait, we can talk you through private care options to cover the gap.
If you already have funding
If your funding is already in place, the start date depends mainly on the provider. That includes getting to know your needs and agreeing a care plan and service agreement. It also includes arranging care workers for the times you need.
If you are moving from another provider, your new services can start on the day your current services end. Our guide to switching home care provider explains how to plan the change.
If you are paying privately
Private care does not wait on government funding, so the timing depends on the support involved, where you live and local availability. Ask the local team what they can confirm and when.
Need help working out your options?
Talk to a local team about the support you need
No obligation, and we’ll explain your options in plain English.
Get started Or call 1300 875 377Explain why the timing matters
Start with the task and what it needs to fit around. "I leave home at 10 am on Thursdays" is more useful than "I prefer mornings".
Be clear about which visits must happen at a particular time and which could move. You should not feel pressured to call an essential visit flexible just to get started sooner.
Ask what can be confirmed
There is a difference between requesting a time and having it agreed. Ask whether the provider is offering an exact time, an arrival window or a preference it will try to meet. If a window is offered, check that it works for the task.
Talk about the whole week. Availability can differ between weekdays and weekends, and some times may only be possible for a start period.
Talk to your local HomeCaring team
Tell your local team your suburb, when you would like support to start and the times that matter most. They will explain what they can confirm, and when.
