Personal care at home
Help with showering, dressing and getting through the morning, from someone you know, in the bathroom you already know how to use.
What personal care covers
Personal care is help with the parts of the day that involve your body: washing, dressing, grooming, getting to the toilet, moving from the bed to a chair. It is the most common reason people first call us, and usually the hardest one to raise with family.
A typical visit is 45 minutes to an hour in the morning. Some people have one a week, for the shower they would rather not do alone. Others have two visits a day, morning and evening. Both are normal.
What a carer can help with
- Showering, bathing and drying, including help getting in and out safely.
- Dressing and undressing, including compression stockings and difficult fastenings.
- Hair washing, shaving, skin care, nail care and oral care.
- Getting on and off the toilet, and continence support.
- Moving between bed, chair and walking frame, including transfers with equipment.
- Prompting for medication, so tablets are taken on time and in the right order.
Dignity is the whole job
Being showered by another person is not something most people look forward to. Our carers are trained to work at your pace, to explain what they are doing before they do it, and to leave you to manage whatever you can still manage yourself. Independence that gets taken away because it was quicker to do it for you does not come back.
If you would prefer a carer of a particular gender, or one who speaks your first language, tell us on the first call. Our carers between them speak a wide range of languages, and in the catchments we work in that matters more often than not.
How it gets paid for
Personal care sits in the Independence category of Support at Home. Clinical services like nursing are fully funded by the government; Independence services carry a participant contribution set by your income and Age Pension status. Full pensioners contribute nothing toward personal care.
If you are still waiting for a package, you can pay privately and start now. People do this to keep a routine going through the wait, and because it means the carer who eventually works under your package is someone you already trust.
Getting started
Call 1800 434 002 or send the form below. We will ask what the mornings currently look like, what is getting difficult, and whether you have a package or an assessment date. From there we will tell you what we would suggest and what it would cost. There is no charge for that conversation and no obligation after it.
Other services
- In-home nursing — wound care, medication management and clinical monitoring.
- Domestic assistance — cleaning, laundry and help with the shopping.
- Respite care — cover so a family carer can take a break.
- All services
Common questions
What does personal care actually include?
Showering or bathing, dressing and undressing, hair and skin care, shaving, oral care, help getting on and off the toilet, continence support, moving between bed and chair, and prompting for medication. Most people start with one or two of these rather than all of them.
Can I have the same carer each visit?
That is what we aim for, and it is the part of the service people care about most. We match you with a regular carer and keep that arrangement stable. Leave and illness happen, and when they do we send someone who has been briefed on your routine rather than a stranger with no notes.
Is personal care covered by Support at Home?
Yes. Personal care sits in the Independence category of Support at Home, which carries a participant contribution. How much you pay depends on your income and your Age Pension status: full pensioners contribute nothing towards it. Your quarterly budget and your contribution rate are both set when your package is assigned.
Can a man request a male carer, or a woman a female carer?
Yes, and you should say so when you first call. Personal care is intimate work and the preference is a normal one to have. The same goes for language, and for cultural or religious requirements around modesty.
Can I get personal care while I wait for my package?
Yes. You can pay privately and start straight away, then move onto your package once it is assigned. You keep the same carer through the change, which is the main reason people do it this way rather than waiting.
Enquire about personal care
Tell us where you're up to and we'll be in touch. Prefer to talk? Call 1800 434 002.