Salvos Home Care

Yes, The Salvation Army provides Support at Home services through Salvos Home Care, offering a wide range of in-home support to older Australians. 

You can contact Salvos Home Care on 1300 111 227. Follow the prompts and you’ll be directed to your local team.  

If you are an existing client, you’re welcome to contact your dedicated Care Partner directly for support. 

How long does Salvos Home Care take to respond to a new enquiry?

At Salvos Home Care, we aim to respond to new enquiries within 24 hours. 

If you contact us on a weekend or public holiday, we’ll get back to you on the next business day. 

Support at Home includes eight levels of funding, and your funding classification will determine the amount of support you can access. Most of the cost of your services is covered by the government subsidy allocated to you. You will only make a co-contribution for the services you receive. 

Clinical Care 

• Clinical care is fully government-funded, with no out-of-pocket costs for clinical care services. 

Independence and Everyday Living Services 

• Contribution rates for independence and everyday living services depend on your income and assets, similar to the Age Pension means test. Your contribution amount is set by the government, not by your provider. 

• If you choose services that go beyond what your subsidy covers, you can add them as self-funded services. 

Care Management Fee 

• A 10% Care Management Fee is deducted from your government subsidy to help us cover your care management. 

We can help you understand your funding level and work with you to create a care plan that fits your needs and available budget. You won’t be charged any fees without your agreement, and you’ll always have full visibility over the cost of your services. 

You can learn more about Support at Home fees and charges with Salvos Home Care at: 
https://agedcare.salvos.org.au/home-care/support-at-home/ 

You can also use the Support at Home Fee Estimator to check your likely costs. 

If you decide to change providers, your approval for Support at Home services and budget will move with you to your new provider. Our goal is to make transferring a simple process, and your dedicated Care Partner can guide you through each step. 

At Salvos Home Care, we can help you: 

• Notify your current outgoing provider (as early as possible) and agree on an exit date 
• Advise your outgoing provider of who your new provider will be, as this will help with information sharing to ensure your care continues  
• Lastly, confirm a start date with us, your new provider. 

Support at Home offers a broad range of services designed to help you stay safe and independent at home. The services you can access are grouped into three main categories: 

Clinical Support  

• Includes nursing, Allied Health, therapeutic services, nutrition and care management.  

Independence Support  

• Includes personal care, social support, respite, transport, therapies for independent living, assistive technology and home modification. 

Everyday Living  

• Includes cleaning, gardening, home maintenance, shopping, meal preparation and delivery.  

A more detailed list is available on the My Aged Care website.

What services are not funded under Support at Home?

The following services are not funded under Support at Home: 

• Grocery items or the cost of food 
• Pet care (such as dog walking or grooming) 
• Household appliances (e.g. washing machines, dryers, fridges) 
• Major home renovations or structural work 
• Rent, mortgage payments or household bills 
• Entertainment, leisure or lifestyle expenses 
• Medical costs that are not part of your care plan

Home Modifications

Under Support at Home, you can access separate home modification funding of up to $15,000, without needing to save from your ongoing services budget. You will be assessed for the home modification scheme as part of your My Aged Care assessment. Your approval will be outlined in their Notice of Decision and support plan.   

Support at Home funded home modifications generally include: 

• Grab rails and handrails 
• Ramps or small steps 
• Bathroom safety changes, such as non-slip flooring or handrails 
• Shower adjustments, such as the installation of a hand-held shower head 
• Simple mobility or access improvements, recommended by an Allied Health professional 

These modifications must be linked to your care needs, recommended by a qualified health professional (such as an Occupational Therapist) and focused on safety, independence or fall prevention. 

Support at Home does not fund major renovations or structural building work. 

Your Care Partner can guide you through the home modification scheme if you require these types of services. 

Assistive Technology

Under Support at Home, you can access separate assistive technology funding of up to $15,000, without needing to save from your ongoing services budget. You will be assessed for the assistive technology scheme as part of your My Aged Care assessment. Your approval will be outlined in their Notice of Decision and support plan.   

Support at Home funded assistive technologies generally include:  

• Mobility equipment such as walking sticks, walking frames and wheelchairs 
• Toileting supports such as bedpans and commodes 
• Bathing devices such as shower chairs and bath boards 

Your Care Partner can guide you through the assistive technology scheme if you require these types of services.  

You can apply for Support at Home through My Aged Care by following these steps: 

1. Check your eligibility online at My Aged Care or call 1800 200 422. 
2. Have an in-home assessment. 
3. If approved, you’ll receive a Notice of Decision and a Support Plan outlining your funding classification, budget and approved services. 
4. Once you have your approval, call Salvos Home Care on 1300 111 227 to discuss your service options and how we can support you. 

Support at Home levels are determined through your My Aged Care assessment. During your in-home assessment, an Aged Care Assessor will look at your health, daily activities, safety, mobility and the type of support you need at home. 

Based on this assessment, you’ll receive a funding classification level, which is outlined in your Notice of Decision and your Support Plan. 

If you’re unsure about your level or what it means, your Care Partner can help you understand what services you can access. 

Support at Home and the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) are both government-funded programs that assist older Australians to live independently at home, but they support different levels of care needs. 

Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) 

• CHSP is designed for people who mainly need entry-level or low-level support. It provides simple, practical help such as cleaning, meals, transport or social support. 

Support at Home 

• Support at Home has replaced the Home Care Packages program and is designed for people with higher or ongoing care needs.  
• It offers a wider range of services, more flexibility and greater funding levels. 

If you’re unsure which program is right for you, Salvos Home Care can help you understand your options and guide you through your My Aged Care assessment. 

Salvos Home Care provides Support at Home in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, ACT and TAS, and CHSP in NSW, QLD and ACT.  

Your Support at Home care plan can change whenever your needs change. Your Care Partner regularly reviews your plan and works with you to update your services as needed, to meet your goals and support your independence. 

If you need additional support, want to adjust your services or your situation changes, just let your Care Partner know. They’ll request a support plan review and possibly re-assessment to get additional funding to meet your care needs and make sure your care plan is updated to reflect your current needs.