The End-of-Life Pathway will be available under Support at Home. This pathway recognises that many older people prefer to spend their final months in the comfort of their own home, surrounded by loved ones. This change responds to the Royal Commission's recommendation to improve in-home care for people who are palliative or nearing the end of life.

What the Pathway Offers

Participants who are eligible for the End-of Life Pathway will receive:

• Up to $25,000 in funding for additional in-home aged care services over a 3-month period, with up to 16 weeks to use these funds, offering flexibility during this time.
• Access to the highest daily funding rate under Support at Home to meet increased care needs.
• Continued access to the same services offered in ongoing Support at Home classifications.
• Eligibility to access assistive technology and home modifications through the separate AT-HM Scheme.

Who is Eligible?

To access the End-of-Life Pathway, a participant must:

• Be diagnosed by a doctor or nurse practitioner with an estimated life expectancy of less than 3 months.
• Have a Karnofsky Performance Status score of 40 or below, indicating a high level of frailty.
  

How to Access the Pathway

Current Support at Home participants will go through a high-priority Support Plan Review - this avoids a full reassessment during a difficult time.
New clients will be prioritised for an aged care assessment to confirm eligibility and approve the services needed.