End-of-Life Support at Home: Understanding the New Palliative Care Funding Option

When an ageing loved one enters the final stage of life, families are often overwhelmed, not just emotionally, but by the need to make critical decisions about care, comfort, and support. Many Australians wish to spend their final months in the familiarity and dignity of their own home, surrounded by those they love. But until now, funding models haven’t always made this possible.

With the introduction of the Support at Home Program from November 2025, a new dedicated funding pathway for end-of-life care at home is now available. This important change ensures more Australians can access high-quality, compassionate palliative support where they feel most comfortable: at home.

Here’s what you need to know about the new end-of-life care funding option, how it works, and how a specialist provider like Home Care Assistance can provide the support your family needs during this critical time.

A Shift in Aged Care: Support at Home’s Palliative Option

The Support at Home Program replaces the former Home Care Packages (HCP) and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) programs, introducing a more flexible, transparent system tailored to individual needs. One of the most meaningful changes is the addition of specific funding for end-of-life care.

For the first time, eligible older Australians can receive up to $25,000 in dedicated funding for palliative and comfort care delivered at home, helping families avoid unnecessary hospital stays, honour final wishes, and provide support in the most compassionate environment possible.

What Does End-of-Life Care Include?

Palliative or end-of-life care is not just medical—it’s holistic. It focuses on relieving pain, managing symptoms, providing emotional comfort, and supporting families. Under the Support at Home program, the end-of-life care option can cover a wide range of services, including:

• Nursing care and pain management
• 24/7 personal care support, if needed
• Assistance with daily living (eating, bathing, dressing)
• Medication monitoring and support
• Emotional and psychological care
• Respite for family members or informal carers
• Spiritual and cultural support
• Assistance with mobility, transfers, and comfort positioning

Support is designed to be flexible, and you can work with your provider to adapt services as needs evolve.

How the New Funding Works

The Support at Home Program provides up to $25,000 in funding across a 3-month period, with a 16-week window to use the funding. This ensures that support can begin as soon as the need is identified, with time flexibility to avoid unnecessary stress on families during an already emotional period.

The funding is separate from your existing care budget, which means families do not need to sacrifice ongoing services in order to receive specialised end-of-life care.

Key Features of the End-of-Life Funding Pathway:

• Up to $25,000 per eligible individual
• 3-month care period, with 16 weeks to use the funding
• Covers palliative care, comfort care, and practical assistance
• Delivered by qualified care professionals
• Can be combined with existing services or care plans

Who Is Eligible?

Eligibility for the end-of-life pathway is based on a clinical assessment confirming that the individual is entering the final stage of life. This may include:

• An advanced or terminal illness diagnosis
• Rapid deterioration in health
• Need for comfort-focused rather than curative care

Your GP, specialist, or palliative care team can support you through this assessment, and Home Care Assistance can help you coordinate the necessary documentation and liaise with My Aged Care to access the funding quickly.

Why In-Home Palliative Care Matters

For many families, the opportunity to care for a loved one at home during their final weeks is a gift. Home is where routines are familiar, where privacy and dignity are preserved, and where loved ones can be close without visiting hours or clinical restrictions.

In-home end-of-life care allows for:

• Greater comfort and control over surroundings
• More time with loved ones in a personal and peaceful space
• Culturally appropriate support aligned with individual values and beliefs
• Reduced stress compared to hospital or residential settings
• The ability to say goodbye in a meaningful and familiar way

Research shows that home-based palliative care not only improves quality of life, but can also ease the grief process for families, knowing their loved one was cared for in the place they felt most safe and supported.

How Home Care Assistance Supports Families Through End-of-Life Care

At Home Care Assistance, we understand that the final stage of life requires more than clinical care, it requires compassion, sensitivity, and deep respect for the individual and their family.

• Our specially trained care professionals provide:
• Tailored, around-the-clock support, from a few hours a day to full 24/7 care
• Continuity of care, with trusted professionals who know your loved one’s needs
• Emotional support for both the individual and their family members
• Help navigating the aged care system, so you can focus on what matters most
• Coordination with allied health and palliative care teams

A calm, compassionate presence – often the most important service we offer

Whether your loved one needs daily nursing support, gentle companionship, or practical assistance with personal care, we’re here to help ease the journey with dignity and heart.

Planning Ahead: What You Can Do Now

While no one wants to think about the end of life, planning early makes a world of difference. If you have a loved one living with a terminal illness or progressing health conditions, having a care conversation now can ensure their wishes are honoured and that support is in place before a crisis occurs.

Steps to consider:

1. Talk with your GP about whether end-of-life funding may apply.
2. Contact My Aged Care to begin the assessment process.
3. Speak with Home Care Assistance to explore your care options and create a plan tailored to your loved one’s needs and preferences.
4. Involve family members early, so everyone understands the plan and support available.

Remember: you don’t have to do this alone.

End-of-Life Support Is About Living with Dignity

The final chapter of life deserves the same care, planning, and respect as any other stage. With the new Support at Home palliative care funding option, more Australians can experience the peace of knowing they’ll be supported with compassion, dignity, and comfort at home.

Support at home from a specialist provider, such as Home Care Assistance, can bring enormous benefits and comfort to your quality of life while living independently at home. Home Care Assistance offers viable solutions for supporting independent living. For more information, get in touch with a Home Care Assistance near me today.