How are Aged Care changes going so far?
- Collins Hume
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
We are now just over 6 months into the November 2025 aged care changes. How’s it going so far?
From what I see, hear and read … it’s not going as well as hoped / planned.
We still have delays to get an assessment, we have an assessment tool that seems to be restricting home care package levels, we have a Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) that is bulging at the seams and difficult to find participating service providers and workers, we still have long wait times for home care funding and people having to restrict / limit / cancel home care services as they exceed budgets due to increased service hourly rates, we still have long residential care waiting lists and hospitals have (unintentionally) become residential aged care facilities … and the Government want you to pay more for all of this.
The aged care wave often travels far too slowly when you want / need it to go (much) faster.
In recent times, I’ve had an increased number of people and their families approach me about how they can be better prepared just in case they need to jump onto the aged care wave … rather than wait for a crisis and hope for good outcomes.
Get your legal documents done / reviewed
Make sure you have a Will, an Enduring Power of Attorney (financial matters), an Enduring Guardian (health & care matters) and an Advance Care Directive. Make sure you know where the originals are stored and review them to ensure they accurately reflect your current wishes and expectations.
Ensure the person / people nominated for various roles know they’ve been nominated and that they clearly understand their role and responsibilities (especially if they are a friend or neighbour).
Register with My Aged Care
The aged care journey starts when you register with My Aged Care. It’s a phone call (P: 1800 200 422) to request that you be registered on the system … even if you don’t need anything else right now.
Nominate people who can talk and act on your behalf
With organisations like My Aged Care and Centrelink, you should nominate someone to act as a back-up Authority (responsible person) on your behalf if you are unable to for whatever reason.
Get all your important documents sorted and together
For someone to step into your life to help handle your affairs, it’s important that they know what is expected of them … AND (most importantly) where to find all your important documents.
This makes a difficult job so much less stressful rather than having to find and sort through reams of paperwork.
Get a Centrelink assessment underway
Centrelink are the hub for financial assessments … how much are you going to pay for your care – either at home or in residential care. And … there’s a form for that (of course).
Many people mistakenly think Centrelink already know all about their financial affairs. They don’t … unless you (regularly) tell them.
If you don’t want to tell them … that’s fine … but be prepared to pay for that.
How Family Aged Care Advocates help you
Family Aged Care Advocates can help you with all of this. Give us a call on 0411 264 002 or email Shane to organise a day and time for a discussion … at your home.
