Frank, 85, has lived in the same weatherboard house for fifty-two years and intends to leave it "feet first, thanks very much". The bathroom step has become a nightly negotiation, and his physio has suggested a walker for the uneven front path. He held off asking about either, assuming they'd eat into the budget that pays for his cleaner and his physio.
Frank's story is an illustrative scenario, created to show how Support at Home works in practice. It is not a real client testimonial.
Under Support at Home, equipment and home modifications generally don't come out of your quarterly budget.
The AT-HM Scheme: separate money
The Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme is a distinct part of Support at Home. It funds equipment (assistive technology) and changes to your home, separately from the quarterly budget that pays for your ongoing services. Frank's bathroom rail doesn't compete with Frank's cleaner.
What it covers
The scheme covers two things:
- Assistive technology means walkers and other mobility aids that help you do daily tasks safely.
- Home modifications are changes to the home: grab rails, ramps over steps and similar safety works.
What's funded depends on your assessed needs, so treat these as examples.
The pathway: assessment first, purchase second
The entry point is My Aged Care (myagedcare.gov.au, 1800 200 422) and the Single Assessment System. If something has changed, a few near-misses on the bathroom step or a physio recommending a walker, tell your provider and ask about a review.
Don't self-ration on safety. If you've been putting off a rail, ramp or walker to protect your quarterly budget, remember: AT-HM is separate funding. The question isn't "can I afford it?" but "has my need been assessed?"
Who coordinates it
There's still coordination to do: quotes, suppliers, installers, claims. With Partner with Care's self-managed model, you keep a say in which suppliers and tradespeople come into your home. Frank got his rail, his walker, and kept every hour of his cleaner.