Choice Home Help

22/04/2026

The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) welcomes the announcement by the Albanese Government that older people on the Support at Home aged care program will no longer pay out-of-pocket costs for help with showering, dressing and support with continence management. The change means these essential personal care services will move into the program’s clinical care category, fully removing co-contributions. These changes take effect from 1 October 2026.

‘This is good news for older people who have consistently raised concerns with us about the impact on their dignity and wellbeing by having to pay out-of-pocket expenses for essential personal care services,’ OPAN Director Policy, Education and Systemic Advocacy Samantha Edmonds said.

‘OPAN has long and consistently called for these services to be covered by clinical care under Support at Home. We welcome this reform and the significant difference it will make to the lives of older people.’

Read the full release https://opan.org.au/about-us/news-and-media-centre/media-releases/

21/04/2026

Great news!!

We have had a win!!

Co-payments for showers, (we hope just generally personal care) has been scrapped - effective from October 2026!

And to have it released while at an Aged Care conference that has pushed for it - GOLD!

The decision to scrap the plan to charge older Australians $50/hour for showers was made after months of sustained criticism, including warnings that people were forgoing other care to afford the service.

21/04/2026

This is to say thank you to all the informal carers - those that don’t get paid. I think this is beautifully written.

30% of carers pass away before those they care for. Sobering and we see this at Choice.

Take care of yourself too.

I am sitting in my memory and dementia clinic right now, quickly blinking away tears as I mourn the loss of my long-term patients spouse and caregiver. It happens from time to time, my patient will appear with a different family member, and I learn the hard news. Caregiving is never free. It might b...

21/04/2026

Does any one want two free Boney M tickets for Wednesday night (tomorrow) at Astor Theatre? Stand up tix , so you will clearly be dancing!

20/04/2026

Here we go. 2 day conference in Melbourne at Marvel Stadium for all things Aged Care.

20/04/2026

Footy Tipping roundup from Coach Gino
Round 6 was a complete nine game round and although no perfect score amongst us, we did have over half the tippers picking 8 of 9 winners.
Th following scored 8 and were let down by Brisbane losing to Melbourne.
Sazzy91, NicoleWalton, thebigwalt, OlmanC, pcrouch, DaniKahn89, 2026_Dockers, HayleyH, NarelleDeMarte, Shineykim.
Purple_kahuna was the only tipper to pick Melbourne, but was let down by St.Kilda, so also finished with 8 winners.
Funny how things turn out, with this round giving us the highest numbers of tippers with equal top score of 8 and also at the same time, the highest number equal bottom scores of 2. Three tippers only scored 2.
The leaderboard is getting tighter, with only 1 point separated the top five.
1. OlmanC. 41
2. Shineykim. 41
3. pcrouch. 40
4. sazzy91. 40
5. HayleyH. 40

Next round is another 9 game round. Who will be the first to crack a perfect 9 from 9 score.

Good luck.

20/04/2026

A big happy birthday to our lovely client Jean 🥳

20/04/2026

To our Geraldton clients and families. If you’re looking for something different to do this weekend, why not check out our lovely client Dorothy’s quilt sale. Explore over 30 stunning handmade patchwork quilts, lovingly created by 95-year-old Dorothy. Each piece tells a story.

🗓 Sunday 26 April�⏰ 9am–12pm�📍 Blue Heelers, Marine Tce�(Just across the road from Fleur Cafe)

16/04/2026

Beautiful weather in Geraldton 😍

16/04/2026

Say no more.

When the Former Commonwealth Deputy Chief Medical Officer is getting confused with the terminology between Support at Home Act and CHSP - in relation to his own family, that’s when you know there is a problem. This is a conversation that everyone in the sector needs to hear. Because it’s clearly...

16/04/2026

Ok what’s happening everyone?

We have had 7 falls in 3 days with many of our special people still in hospital.

Stay upright everyone. Somethings in the water. Take care.