Dementia Care
Patient, familiar support that helps someone living with dementia stay safely at home
In-home dementia care in Melbourne
- Care from people who get to know your loved one, not just their diagnosis
A dementia diagnosis changes things for the whole family, not just the person living with it. Familiar routines, familiar faces and a familiar home matter more than ever and for many families, staying at home for as long as possible is exactly what everyone wants.
Absolute Care & Health provides in-home dementia care across Melbourne, built around the person, not a checklist. We take the time to understand their history, their habits, what unsettles them and what brings them comfort, so support feels like part of their day rather than an interruption to it.
Whether you need a few hours of dementia home care a week, dementia respite care for family carers, or a full 24-hour dementia care team, we build it around your situation.
Care that grows with the person, not against them
Dementia doesn’t affect two people the same way, and needs rarely stay the same for long. In the earlier stages, support might mean gentle reminders, help staying organised, and company through the day.
As dementia progresses, it can mean full personal care, structured routines, and a support worker who’s trained to respond calmly to confusion or distress.
Because we work with you from the start, we can adjust your dementia care plan as things change, rather than starting from scratch with a new provider every time your needs shift.
What our dementia care includes?
Every dementia home care plan is different, but the support we provide typically includes:
- Personal care — showering, dressing, grooming and hygiene routines, delivered patiently and at the person's own pace
- Medication reminders and management, so nothing is missed or duplicated
- Behavioural support from support workers trained to respond calmly to confusion, agitation or changed behaviour, rather than escalating it
- Meaningful activities and engagement — conversation, familiar music, hobbies, and activities suited to the person's interests and current abilities
- Mobility support and fall prevention around the home
- Nursing and clinical support for more complex needs, delivered by our registered nurses
- Companionship that reduces isolation for the person and gives family carers a genuine break
Who dementia care at home is for
We provide dementia care and support to people at every stage, funded in a range of ways:
- Older Australians using the Support at Home program. Some clients with a dementia diagnosis are eligible for additional funding within their package to reflect the extra support dementia care can involve. Your Care Manager can talk you through what's available under your specific plan.
- People with younger onset dementia who may be eligible for support through the NDIS.
- Family carers who need dementia respite care, whether that's a few hours a week or a longer stretch of relief.
- Private clients who want to start dementia care without waiting on an aged care assessment. As a private home care provider, we can usually begin within days.
Not sure which pathway applies, or whether your current package covers what you need? Call 1300 030 032 and one of our Care Managers will talk it through with you.
Staying at home, or moving into residential care?
This is one of the hardest questions families face, and there’s no single right answer.
It depends on the level of care needed, safety at home, and how much support is realistically available day to day.
What we see often is that families move to residential care sooner than they need to, simply because they don’t know how much can be managed at home with the right support in place.
In-home dementia care can extend the time someone spends living independently and comfortably in the home they know (sometimes for years) with care scaled up as needs increase.
That said, there are situations where residential dementia care is genuinely the safer or more appropriate option, particularly where round-the-clock clinical care is needed.
If you’re weighing up the two, our Care Managers are happy to talk through your specific situation honestly, including whether home is still a realistic option and for how long.
The right people for you
Whatever services you’re receiving, it’s important that you feel you have the right person supporting you.
We take our brief from you about the sort of person you’d like to have working with you and involve you in their selection, which matters even more with dementia care, where familiarity and trust make such a difference.
- Personality matching
- Cultural understanding
- Multilingual caregivers
- Preference for male or female caregivers
- LGBTI awareness
For whatever you need in your home, we can help.
The right people for you
Whatever services you’re receiving, it’s important that you feel you have the right person supporting you.
We take our brief from you about the sort of person you’d like to have working with you and involve you in their selection, which matters even more with dementia care, where familiarity and trust make such a difference.
- Personality matching
- Cultural understanding
- Multilingual caregivers
- Preference for male or female caregivers
- LGBTI awareness
For whatever you need in your home, we can help.
How much does dementia care at home cost?
Cost depends on how much support is needed, how many hours a week, and whether care is delivered through a Support at Home, NDIS plan, or privately.
Rather than a single flat figure, we put together a clear, itemised quote once we understand your situation, so you know exactly what to expect before care begins.
If you’re funded through a Support at Home and want to know how far your budget stretches, we’re happy to talk that through with you as well.
In-home dementia care across Melbourne and Mornington Peninsula
We deliver dementia care and support across metropolitan Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula, including:
Not sure if we cover your area? Get in touch if you’re in greater Melbourne or on the Peninsula, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about dementia care at home
These are some of the most common questions, answered for you.
What is dementia care?
Dementia care is support tailored to someone living with dementia, covering everything from personal care and medication reminders to companionship and behavioural support. Good dementia care focuses as much on routine, familiarity and how support is delivered as it does on the tasks themselves.
What's the difference between dementia care and standard personal care?
The tasks can overlap but dementia care requires specific training and a different approach. Responding calmly to confusion or changed behaviour, keeping routines consistent and communicating in ways that reduce distress. Our support workers providing dementia care have training specific to that.
How do I get care for someone with dementia?
The right starting point depends on funding. If they have a Support at Home plan, dementia care can usually be arranged within it. If they’re not yet assessed, or you’d rather not wait, we can start privately. Call 1300 030 032 and we’ll talk you through the options for your situation.
Can dementia care be funded through a Support at Home, or NDIS?
Yes, in most cases. Dementia care can be funded through a Support at Home, with some clients eligible for additional funding to reflect dementia-specific needs. People with younger onset dementia may also be eligible through the NDIS. Your Care Manager can confirm what applies to your plan.
How much does dementia care cost?
It depends on the hours and type of support needed and how it’s funded. We provide a clear, itemised quote once we understand your situation, so there are no surprises.
When should someone with dementia go into a care home?
There’s no fixed point where this becomes necessary. It depends on the level of care needed and what can safely be managed at home. Many families are able to stay at home for longer than they expect with the right support in place. If safety or clinical needs become more complex, residential care may become the better option. We’re happy to talk through your specific situation honestly.
Do you provide overnight or 24-hour dementia care?
Yes. We provide overnight, live-in and 24-hour care for clients with more complex dementia care needs, with support workers trained to respond calmly to overnight confusion or wandering.
Do you provide dementia respite care for family carers?
Yes. Our respite care gives family carers a genuine break, whether that’s a few hours a week or a longer stretch, while your loved one stays with support workers they already know.
Is dementia-specific training provided to your support workers?
Yes. Support workers providing dementia care receive training in dementia-specific behavioural support, communication techniques, and safety, and we match you with people experienced in the level of care you need.
How quickly can dementia care start?
For private clients, care can often start within days. Funded pathways through a Support at Home or NDIS depend on your assessment and plan status. Our team will guide you through what’s needed to get started as quickly as possible.
Discover more about how we work
Absolute Care & Health provides personalised individual support and nursing services, perfectly matched to you.
We work across in-home aged care, the NDIS (disability support) and recovery care. Each of these areas is led by a specialist team with extensive experience and knowledge of their sector.
With hundreds of Support Workers from Australia and around the World, we can offer many languages and cultural backgrounds.
What our clients say about us
“When the Absolute Care & Health Carers are here I know that if James asked for something he would get it. They even do the ironing which is such an incredible help to me. That has allowed me to get out and do what I need to do.”
- James and Sue, Melbourne
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.
