The federal government is poised to abandon a contentious part of its recent aged care overhaul that required older people to contribute towards the cost of showers and other basic personal care, a move first reported by the ABC.
The decision comes after sustained public and political pressure over the Support at Home program, which began in November last year and introduced means-tested co-payments for what the government classified as non-clinical services.
Pensioners, part-pensioners and self-funded retirees were expected to cover between five and 50 per cent of provider fees for help with daily tasks such as showering, dressing and continence care, with some facing bills of around $50 an hour or more when minimum billing policies applied.
Critics quickly labelled the arrangements unfair and undignified. Aged care advocates warned that vulnerable seniors were already skipping showers or cutting back on other essential support to make ends meet, raising serious health risks including infections and increased pressure on hospitals.
The Inspector-General of Aged Care highlighted cases of people actively considering whether they could afford daily personal hygiene. One prominent voice from the Older Women’s Network described forcing such choices between basic care and food as “an obscenity”.
The backlash extended well beyond individual stories. Organisations such as the Council on the Ageing, the Older Persons Advocacy Network and Ageing Australia repeatedly criticised the policy, arguing that personal care should never be treated as an optional extra. Crossbench senators, including David Pocock, and the Greens joined forces with more than 100 politicians across parliament to demand changes.
They called for showering and continence support to be reclassified as clinical services exempt from co-payments, an end to reliance on flawed algorithms for assessments, and urgent action on lengthy waiting lists that left tens of thousands of older Australians without timely help.
Ongoing investigations by HelloCare and the ABC revealed service prices had doubled in some cases under the new system, with reports of $200 or more for a single shower visit during peak times or holidays.
Families spoke of distress and confusion, while providers struggled with the administrative burden and reduced management fees. The reforms also faced scrutiny over broader issues such as delayed assessments, rationing of care packages and a perceived shift towards a more market-driven model that left many feeling worse off.
Aged Care Minister Sam Rae has acknowledged the concerns, stating that showering, dressing and continence care represent the fundamentals of living with dignity and should not be out of reach because of cost. He indicated the government had listened to feedback from older Australians, their families and the sector.
Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler is expected to formally announce the reversal during his address at the National Press Club in Canberra today. The change, which will apply from October, will see the government fully fund these essential personal care services. Officials have confirmed the move will cost about $1 billion over the next four years, with some savings redirected from efforts to contain growth in the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Co-payments will still apply to other non-clinical supports such as cleaning, cooking and gardening. Advocates have welcomed the backdown as a step in the right direction, but say more is needed. They continue to push for human oversight in assessments rather than algorithm-only decisions, faster release of additional home care packages to clear backlogs, and measures to tackle price increases that have eroded trust in the system.
This reversal highlights ongoing tensions in aged care reform. While the overhaul aimed to make the system more sustainable and equitable, the intensity of the reaction over basic personal care has forced a rapid policy adjustment just months into the new arrangements. Further announcements on waiting times and eligibility tools are anticipated in the lead-up to next month’s federal budget.
