The federal government has dropped one of the most unpopular parts of its aged care changes. Older Australians getting care at home will no longer have to pay for help with showers, getting dressed or continence support.
Aged Care Minister Sam Rae confirmed the reversal after strong pushback from the community. He said he had listened to the feedback.
The government will make the change in the upcoming federal budget by moving personal care items like shower assistance into the clinical care category.
The new Aged Care Act started in November 2025. Under the Support at Home program, older Australians were being charged up to $50 an hour for basic help at home including showers and meals.
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The policy got strong criticism from families, nurses and the opposition. Registered nurse and aged care consultant Kerry Paul said higher service prices had forced many vulnerable clients to cut back on the support they needed.
Some older people were going without showers, skipping trips to the shops and even missing meals just to stay within their care budgets, Ms Paul said.
Families of people with serious illnesses also spoke out. Melanie Bow whose 77 year old mother Kay lives with terminal motor neurone disease, described the system as deeply distressing.
Mr Rae said the reforms, which came after the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality, were always expected to need adjustments as they rolled out. But the fix will not start straight away.
The new rules are set to begin on 1 October 2026, six months from the budget announcement.
That delay means thousands of older Australians on home care packages will keep paying these costs in the meantime.
For those who pushed for months to get this changed, the result is welcome but late. For families already doing it tough, the wait goes on.
