- The Restorative Care Pathway is a short-term Support at Home pathway focused on maintaining or regaining function.
- An aged care assessment determines whether restorative care is suitable, and goals are agreed with the person receiving support.
- Each episode can provide around $6,000 of funding for up to 16 weeks, with an additional unit potentially approved where eligible.
- The pathway is about supporting meaningful everyday activities, not simply doing more tasks for someone.
What is the Restorative Care Pathway?
The Restorative Care Pathway is a short-term pathway within the Australian Government’s Support at Home program. It provides intensive allied health and/or nursing support designed to help eligible older people maintain or regain function and reduce or prevent further age-related decline.
It is different from ongoing support that simply takes over everyday tasks. Restorative care starts with a more personal question: what would you like to get back to doing? Your goals may be practical, such as showering with more confidence, preparing a meal, walking to the letterbox or getting back into the garden.
Why recovering at home can make a difference
Home is where everyday life happens. Working with a physiotherapist, occupational therapist or nurse in your own environment can make support more relevant to the routines and spaces you use each day.
A physiotherapist may help you build strength and move safely where you live. An occupational therapist can look at activities such as showering, dressing or preparing meals. Your team can also identify equipment or minor home changes that may help you remain independent.
The aim is not to become better at therapy. It is to become more confident in living your own life.
What might restorative care help you work towards?
- Moving with more confidence Building strength, balance or safer movement after illness, injury or a fall.
- Managing daily routines Getting dressed, showering, preparing meals or moving around the home with greater confidence.
- Returning to meaningful activities Getting back to the garden, community, hobbies or time with people you enjoy.
- Understanding changing health needs Learning practical strategies and receiving nursing or allied health guidance that helps you manage day to day.
- Staying at home for longer Reducing reliance on ongoing help where that is realistic and safe for you.
What services can be included?
Your support is based on your assessed needs and the goals in your goal plan. Restorative care includes allied health and/or nursing, and may also draw on Support at Home services that help you work towards your goals.
Depending on your plan, this can include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nursing, exercises for strength and balance, personal care, help with medication, transport, respite care, domestic support, equipment or minor home modifications. Your provider works with you and your multidisciplinary team to decide what will be most useful.
How long does restorative care last?
An approved restorative care episode provides around $6,000 of funding for up to 16 consecutive weeks. If further services are needed to help you meet your goals, an additional funding unit may be approved for eligible participants, up to around $12,000 within the episode.
People can access up to two non-consecutive restorative care funding episodes within 12 months, with at least three months between them. Funding rules, contributions and service availability can change, so confirm the current details with My Aged Care or your provider before making decisions.
Who may be suited to restorative care?
An aged care assessment determines whether this pathway is right for you. It may suit someone whose ability to manage everyday life has changed after an illness, injury, recent fall, hospital admission or reduced mobility, and where intensive, short-term clinical support is likely to help.
The person needs to be willing to set goals and take an active role in the plan. Family and friends can be part of the journey too. The encouragement of people who know you well can make a real difference when you are working towards something that matters.
A personal plan for what matters to you
At Heather Senior Care, we see the person, not just the care plan. We take time to understand the routines, relationships and activities that make your life feel like your own.
Sometimes the goal is getting back to your garden. Sometimes it is making your own breakfast, walking safely to the front door or feeling confident enough to see a friend. If you or someone you love is wondering whether restorative support may help, our Brisbane team can talk through the practical next step.