How to Ask Your Aged Care Provider About Physiotherapy Under the Support at Home Program If your loved one is receiving aged care services at home, physiotherapy may already be covered under their Support at Home program — but many families don't realise they can request it, or don't know how to start that conversation …
How to Ask Your Aged Care Provider About Physiotherapy Under the Support at Home Program
If your loved one is receiving aged care services at home, physiotherapy may already be covered under their Support at Home program — but many families don’t realise they can request it, or don’t know how to start that conversation with their provider.
This guide explains what physiotherapy under Support at Home looks like, who can access it, and exactly how to speak to your aged care provider about getting started.
What Is the Support at Home Program?
The Support at Home program is the Australian Government’s aged care program that funds a range of services to help older Australians remain living independently at home. It replaced the previous Home Care Package program and is designed to give clients more flexibility in how their funding is used.
Allied health services — including physiotherapy — are funded under the Support at Home program as part of a client’s care plan, provided they are assessed as reasonable and necessary to support the client’s goals.
How Physiotherapy Under the Support at Home Program Can Help?
Mobile physiotherapy at home can support older Australians in a number of ways, including:
- Improving strength, balance, and mobility to reduce the risk of falls
- Rehabilitation after a hospital stay, surgery, or illness
- Managing chronic conditions such as arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, or osteoporosis
- Developing safe exercise programs that can be done at home
- Assessing the need for mobility aids or home modifications
- Supporting independence in daily activities
Because the physiotherapist comes to the client’s home, there is no need to organise transport or attend a clinic — making it accessible for clients who find it difficult to leave the house.
Who Decides Whether Physiotherapy Is Included in a Care Plan?
Your aged care provider — sometimes called a home care provider or case manager — is responsible for coordinating your care plan and allocating funding toward services that meet your goals. They do not automatically include physiotherapy unless it is requested and agreed to be appropriate for the client’s needs.
This means you may need to raise it with them directly. The good news is that the conversation is straightforward, and providers are generally supportive of requests that align with a client’s health and independence goals.
How to Raise It With Your Aged Care Provider
Here is a simple way to approach the conversation, whether by phone or at your next care review meeting:
“We’d like to explore whether physiotherapy can be included in [name]’s care plan. We understand it may be funded under the Support at Home program and think it could help with [falls prevention / mobility / recovery after hospital / managing their condition]. Can you let us know how we go about arranging this?”
You do not need a GP referral to request physiotherapy through your aged care provider, though your provider may ask for one as part of their process. If you already have a preferred physiotherapy provider in mind, you are entitled to request them.
Can You Choose Your Own Physiotherapy Provider?
Yes. Under the Support at Home program, clients have the right to choose their own service providers where possible. If you would like to use a specific mobile physiotherapy service, you can request this when speaking to your case manager.
Simply let them know the name of the provider you’d like to use and ask them to make contact to arrange services. Your case manager will then coordinate the service agreement and funding allocation.
What to Do If Your Provider Says No
If your aged care provider advises that physiotherapy cannot be included in the care plan, it is reasonable to ask for an explanation. In some cases, it may be a matter of available funding within the current plan, in which case it may be possible to reallocate funding from another service or request a plan review.
If you believe physiotherapy is necessary and are not getting the support you need, you can contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission or ask for an independent review of your care plan.
How Bayside Mobile Physio Can Help
Bayside Mobile Physio provides professional physiotherapy services in the home across Sydney. We work with clients under the Support at Home program and are experienced in coordinating directly with aged care providers to make the referral process as straightforward as possible.
If you would like to discuss whether physiotherapy is right for your loved one, or if you would like us to liaise with your aged care provider on your behalf, please get in touch.
Phone: 0468 079 075
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.baysidemobilephysio.com.au
