In-Home Aged Care & Home Care Services in Melbourne
Aged care support, tailored to you
Your aged care services at home
- Promoting independence and wellbeing
Getting older shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the lifestyle you want, or from maintaining your independence in your own home.
Absolute Care& Health been providing in-home aged care throughout Melbourne for over 14 years. Whatever your goals and preferences, we build the support around them.
Some people just need a few hours of help around the house. Others need care around the clock. Most sit somewhere in between, and move along that range as things change, so your support can be increased or decreased as required.
We believe that life is best when lived in the comfort and familiarity of your own home. Our goal is to support you to keep living independently there for as long as you want to.
Wondering whether it's time for some help at home?
Most people don’t come to us because something dramatic happened. They come because the small things have started adding up.
Maybe the housework has become harder than it used to be. Maybe showering feels less safe. Maybe you’ve noticed Mum or Dad isn’t eating properly, or the mail is piling up, or you’re getting worried about them being alone overnight. Sometimes it’s the carer in the family who’s simply running out of steam.
Any of those is a good enough reason to start a conversation. Looking into help at home for elderly parents doesn’t mean taking their independence away. For most of the people we support, it’s the thing that protects it, a couple of hours a week that makes staying at home genuinely workable.
If you’re not sure what you need yet, that’s completely normal. Call us on 1300 030 032 and talk it through with one of our Care Managers. They’re all Registered Nurses, and there’s no pressure and no obligation.
Who we support
We work with older people throughout Melbourne, whatever your funding situation:
- If you're aged 65 or over (or 50 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people), you may be eligible for government funded home care services through My Aged Care.
- If you already have funding under Support at Home, including if you'd like to change providers.
- If you'd rather not wait for an assessment and want to arrange private care straight away.
- If you're coming home from hospital and need a hand while you get back on your feet.
- If you're arranging care for someone else, a parent or a partner, or you're a family carer who needs a break.
You don’t need an assessment, a package, or a diagnosis to talk to us. If you’re funding your care privately, we can usually start within days.
Home care services for seniors
Whether you’re arranging support for yourself or for a parent, the aim is the same. Make daily life easier, without taking over.
Our senior home care services are built around what you actually want help with, and nothing more. Some people want a hand with the heavy housework and nothing else. Others need daily personal care, or someone there overnight. Many start small and add more over the years, which is exactly how it should work.
Elderly home care that keeps people in their own home
Almost everyone we work with wants the same thing – to stay put.
Home care for elderly parents is very often the practical alternative to moving into residential aged care, particularly when it’s set up early enough to prevent the falls, hospital admissions and isolation that tend to force the decision.
Elderly care at home can range from an hour a fortnight through to full round-the-clock support, and it can be funded through Support at Home, or privately.
Private care for elderly parents, without the wait
Government assessments take time, and families often need help before that process finishes.
Private care at home for elderly parents doesn’t require an assessment or an approved package. You choose the services you want, you pay an hourly rate, and we can usually begin within days.
Plenty of families arrange private care for elderly at home as a stopgap while an assessment works its way through, then switch across or top up once funding is approved.
Our in-home aged care services in Melbourne, tailored to you
Your lifestyle goals and preferences are the most important things we consider. Whether you have Support at Home funding, or you’re privately funding your care, you get the services you need in the way that suits you best. Combine them however works for you.
Our in-home aged care services in Melbourne, tailored to you
Your lifestyle goals and preferences are the most important things we consider. Whether you have Support at Home funding, a Home Care Package, or you’re privately funding your care, you get the services you need in the way that suits you best. Combine them however works for you.
How to pay for your home care
There’s more than one way to fund aged care support at home, and the right one depends on your situation. Here’s how the options compare.
Support at Home
We’re a registered Support at Home provider. Support at Home is the government funded program that replaced Home Care Packages, giving you a budget to pay for the aged care support at home that you need.
If you already have funding, or you’d like to apply for it, we can guide you through the application or help you switch providers. Any unspent funds come with you.
Learn about Support at Home | Check your eligibility | How to apply
Private home care, with no waitlist
Government assessments take time. If you need help now, or you’d simply rather not go through the process, you can pay privately.
You pay an hourly rate for the services you want, there are no fixed contracts, and you can flex your care up or down as you need. Plenty of people use private funding alongside government funding, topping up their package with extra hours when they want a bit more support than their budget covers.
Getting started is straightforward
1. Talk to us
Call 1300 030 032. We’ll explain how funding works if you’re just starting out, and tell you everything you need to know about how we work, our costs and our services. We’ll come and meet you in your own home if you like.
2. Finalise your Care Agreement
Once you’ve decided to go ahead, we’ll give you a written Care Agreement that sets out our services, your budget and your costs. Nothing hidden.
3. Your personalised care begins
After an initial assessment with your Care Manager, we’ll set up the services you need. Whether that’s personal care, domestic help, nursing, equipment, or services from other providers, we’ll get it sorted quickly and professionally.
The right carer for you
Feeling comfortable and happy around your carer is an essential part of receiving the best aged care services at home. We take our brief from you about the sort of person you’d like working with you, and we involve you in their selection.
- Personality matching
- Cultural understanding
- Multilingual caregivers
- Preference for male or female caregivers
- LGBTI awareness
We directly employ our own staff rather than subcontracting. That means we can hold them to a consistent standard, and it means you see familiar faces rather than a revolving roster.
The right carer for you
Feeling comfortable and happy around your carer is an essential part of receiving the best aged care services at home. We take our brief from you about the sort of person you’d like working with you, and we involve you in their selection.
- Personality matching
- Cultural understanding
- Multilingual caregivers
- Preference for male or female caregivers
- LGBTI awareness
We directly employ our own staff rather than subcontracting. That means we can hold them to a consistent standard, and it means you see familiar faces rather than a revolving roster.
Continue living in the comfort of your own home
We can provide all kinds of aged care assistance at home. Here’s what support most commonly looks like.
Personal care needs
When you need a little more support to help with daily routines and personal care, we're here to help.
- Showering and grooming
- Continence support
- Medication prompting and management
- Mobility support and falls prevention
Household tasks
Getting some help around the house is often the first thing that people find they need some help with. We can take these tasks off your hands, or work alongside you so you can keep doing them yourself for longer.
- Cooking and meal preparation
- Household cleaning
- Laundry
- Grocery shopping
- Gardening
Social and community support
Staying connected matters just as much as everything else. We can help you get out and about, keep up with the things you enjoy, and stay part of your community.
- Companionship at home
- Transport to appointments and outings
- Help getting to social groups and activities
- Support to stay involved in hobbies and interests
Clinical and nursing care
Our registered nurses provide clinical care at home, including wound care, medication management, health monitoring and complex care needs.
- Nurse-led health assessments
- Wound and continence management
- Chronic condition monitoring
- Post-hospital and recovery support
How much does in-home aged care cost?
What you pay depends on how you’re funding your care and how much support you need.
If you have Support at Home funding, most or all of your services may be covered by your budget, with a contribution based on your circumstances. If you’re funding privately, you pay an hourly rate for the services you use, with no fixed contracts and no lock-in.
We keep our fees competitive and our care quality high, and we’re upfront about what things cost. Rather than a single flat figure that may not reflect your situation, we put together a clear, itemised quote once we understand what you need, so you know exactly what to expect before care begins.
There’s a two-hour minimum for personal care visits, and a 30-minute minimum for nursing services.
Home care services throughout Melbourne
We provide in-home care services across metropolitan Melbourne and Mornington Peninsula, including:
If you’re unsure whether we cover your suburb, call us and we’ll confirm straight away.
Choosing between home care providers in Melbourne
It can be confusing when every provider sounds much the same. What sets us apart is straightforward enough. We directly employ our carers, our Care Managers are all Registered Nurses, and we’ve been providing home care assistance in Melbourne for over a decade.
If what you want is support delivered by people you’ll actually see again, that’s what we do.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about in-home aged care
These are some of the most common questions, answered for you.
What is in-home aged care?
In-home aged care is support that helps older people keep living independently in their own home, rather than moving into residential aged care. It covers everything from help with the cleaning and shopping through to personal care, nursing and round-the-clock support. You can have as little or as much as you need, and it can change over time.
Who is eligible for home care services in Australia?
Government funded home care services are generally available to people aged 65 and over, or 50 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, following an assessment through My Aged Care. If you’d rather not wait for an assessment, or you’re not eligible, you can arrange private home care with us at any age and start straight away.
How much does home care cost per hour in Melbourne?
It depends on the service and how you’re funding it. Personal care, domestic assistance and nursing are priced differently, and rates vary for weekends, public holidays and overnight work. If you have Support at Home funding, much of this may be covered by your budget. We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote before care begins, so there are no surprises.
What's the difference between home care and residential aged care?
Home care supports you in your own home, with carers coming to you for as many or as few hours as you need. Residential aged care means moving into an aged care home. Many people who assume they need residential care find that a well-designed arrangement at home, sometimes including 24-hour or live-in care, lets them stay where they are.
What home care services are available for seniors?
Senior care services typically cover domestic assistance, personal care, nursing, transport, social support, respite and overnight or 24-hour care. Most people begin with one or two of these and add more over time. Home care services for the elderly can be combined in whatever mix suits your situation, and adjusted as things change. The aim throughout is home care for elderly in their own homes, rather than moving anyone somewhere unfamiliar.
How do I arrange home care for an elderly parent?
Start with a conversation, ideally including your parent. If they’re eligible for government funding, contact My Aged Care for an assessment. If you need help sooner, private in-home care for the elderly can start without any assessment at all. Call us on 1300 030 032 and we’ll talk you through both routes and what each would look like.
What aged care services are available at home?
At home aged care covers domestic assistance, personal care, nursing, transport, social support, respite, dementia care and overnight or 24-hour support. Most aged care services in Melbourne look broadly similar on paper, so the real differences tend to be in continuity of carers, how quickly someone answers the phone, and how clearly the costs are explained.
How do I choose a home care agency in Melbourne?
Ask every provider you shortlist the same few questions. Do you directly employ your carers, or subcontract them? What are your management fees? How quickly can you start? Will I see the same faces each visit? Comparing the answers side by side tells you far more than comparing marketing copy. We’re happy to answer all four on the phone.
How do I apply for government funded aged care at home?
You start by contacting My Aged Care for an assessment, which determines what level of funding you’re eligible for. It can take time. We can walk you through the process, and if you need support before your funding comes through, we can start privately in the meantime.
How long is the wait for home care funding?
Wait times vary depending on your assessed level of need and demand in your area. Because of this, many people begin with private home care and switch across, or top up, once funding is approved. There’s no waitlist for our private clients.
Can I change home care providers and keep my funding?
Yes. You’re free to change providers, and any unspent funds transfer with you. If you’re unhappy with your current provider, or they don’t service your area, we’ll handle the transfer paperwork for you. See changing providers.
Can I pay for home care privately without an assessment?
Yes. Private home care doesn’t require a My Aged Care assessment, a package, or any government approval. You choose the services you want and pay an hourly rate, with no fixed contract. For most private clients we can begin within days. See private home care.
Do you provide aged care near me, and what areas of Melbourne do you cover?
We provide in-home aged care across metropolitan Melbourne, including South Yarra, Werribee, Sunshine, Hawthorn, East Melbourne, Sunbury, Toorak, Malvern, Camberwell, St Kilda, Doncaster, Brighton, Caulfield, Dandenong and Kew, as well as the Mornington Peninsula. If you’re looking for aged care services near me in one of those areas, call 1300 030 032 and we’ll confirm your suburb straight away.
Find out more about in-home care
What our clients say about us
“Mum and I could not be happier with the service that Absolute and the carers that look after her offer. Thank you all so very much.”
- Melinda, Footscray
It's your life. Live it, love it, own it.
By making sure we absolutely understand your goals, your needs and your situation, we deliver great customer experiences, creating and celebrating positive outcomes every day.
