Research findings: home care participants feel overlooked

Published 12th May 2026

Research from Flinders University has found older Australians accessing a home care package felt  overlooked, unheard and inadequately supported in navigating a complex systems involved. although this research was conducted prior to the roll out of the Support at Home program, it remains relevant to the ongoing transition and related senate inquirys, and as the researchers identified, may serve as a helpful "baseline from which to monitor progress in the new system". You can find the research article here.

Key findings of note which impacted people's oppertunnities to be living safely, independantly and comfortably at home included:

• Budgetary trade-offs between cleaning and personal care and medical care related services such as pysiotherapy or transport to medical appointments.
• Administration fees and unclear rules around package spending.
• Wait times on approvals for spending.
• Skill set for persistent self advocacy.
• People avoided seeking help out of fears that requests would be rejected or take too long.
• Nutrition being compromised in order to afford urgent health costs.
• Older people living in regional Australia most at risk for trade offs related to costs, particularly nutrition.

Source:
Katarina Lloyd Jones, 2026, https://communitycarereview.com.au (https://communitycarereview.com.au/2026/05/06/home-care-recipients-feel-overlooked-study-shows/)