Allied Health in Aged Care for Mobility, Safety and Independence

Personal care and nursing are important parts of aged care, but they are not the only services that help an older person remain independent. Allied health professionals focus on movement, balance, foot health, nutrition, communication and the practical abilities needed for daily life.

The right support can help an older person move more safely, manage a health condition and continue doing the activities that matter to them.

This guide explains the role of allied health in aged care, how podiatry and physiotherapy support older adults and how approved services may be funded under Support at Home.

Allied Health Support for Everyday Health and Function

Allied health covers qualified health professionals other than doctors, nurses and dentists. Their work often focuses on maintaining or improving a person’s function, independence and quality of life.

Allied health professionals involved in aged care may include:

• Physiotherapists
• Podiatrists
• Occupational therapists
• Speech pathologists
• Dietitians
• Exercise physiologists
• Psychologists
• Social workers

Each profession addresses different needs. A physiotherapist may work on strength and balance, while an occupational therapist may assess whether someone can safely use their bathroom, prepare a meal or move around their home.

Not every older person needs every type of allied health service. Support should be based on their assessed needs, health conditions and personal goals.

Podiatry Support for Safer and More Comfortable Movement

Foot pain, skin problems and reduced sensation can make walking uncomfortable or unsafe. These concerns become particularly important for an older person living with diabetes, poor circulation, arthritis or another condition affecting their feet.

A podiatrist can assess and treat concerns such as:

• Foot pain
• Corns and calluses
• Thickened or difficult-to-manage nails
• Changes in skin condition
• Reduced sensation
• Footwear problems
• Changes in walking caused by foot discomfort
• Some diabetes-related foot risks

Podiatry in aged care is not simply cosmetic nail care. Funded treatment should address an assessed health, safety or functional need.

Professional foot checks may also identify concerns the older person has not noticed, particularly when sensation is reduced. Addressing pain or discomfort early can prevent it from making walking and everyday movement more difficult.

Physiotherapy That Builds Strength and Confidence

Physiotherapy for older adults focuses on movement, physical function and safer participation in daily activities.

A physiotherapist may assess:

• Strength and balance
• Walking and movement patterns
• Joint movement
• Pain affecting physical activity
• Transfers between a bed, chair or toilet
• Mobility after an illness, injury or hospital stay
• The safe use of a walking aid

Treatment depends on the person’s condition and goals. It may include a tailored exercise program, movement practice, balance training, mobility advice or support during recovery.

For someone who has become less active after a fall or hospital admission, physiotherapy may help rebuild strength and confidence gradually. The program should be reviewed as the person’s health, abilities and goals change.

Allied Health as Part of Falls Prevention

Falls rarely have one cause. Reduced strength, poor balance, foot pain, unsuitable footwear, medication effects, vision changes and hazards around the home may all contribute.

Different allied health professionals can address different areas of risk:

• A physiotherapist can assess strength, balance and walking
• A podiatrist can address foot pain and footwear concerns
• An occupational therapist can assess daily activities and the home environment
• An exercise physiologist can develop a suitable exercise program

Allied health cannot guarantee that a person will not fall. However, an individual assessment can identify factors that may be improved or managed.

A new fall, repeated near-falls or a sudden change in mobility should also be discussed with the person’s GP or treating health professional.

Other Allied Health Services Used in Aged Care

Podiatry and physiotherapy are only two parts of allied health care.

Occupational therapy

An occupational therapist helps older adults complete everyday activities more safely and independently. This may include assessing personal care tasks, kitchen activities, mobility around the home, equipment needs and home modifications.

Speech pathology

A speech pathologist can assess and support communication and swallowing difficulties. Swallowing concerns require professional assessment because they may affect eating, drinking, hydration and safety.

Dietetics

A dietitian provides nutrition advice based on the person’s health, dietary needs and eating difficulties. This may be relevant when someone is losing weight, managing a chronic condition or struggling to maintain adequate nutrition.

Exercise physiology

An exercise physiologist develops structured exercise programs for people managing health conditions, reduced physical capacity or changes in mobility.

Psychology

A psychologist may support an older person experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, adjustment difficulties or other mental health concerns.

The right professional depends on the person’s assessed needs rather than their age alone.

Funding Allied Health Through Support at Home

Under Support at Home, allied health services sit within the Clinical Supports category.

Participants do not pay a contribution for approved clinical services delivered through the program. However, this does not mean allied health services are unlimited or automatically available.

For a service to be funded:

• The allied health need must be identified through the aged care assessment and support-planning process
• The service must be included in the person’s approved support plan
• Sufficient funding must be available in the relevant budget
• The service must meet the applicable Support at Home requirements

Approved allied health services are paid from the person’s Support at Home budget. A person may therefore have no separate contribution for a session while still needing to manage how much of their available funding is used.

This differs from independence and everyday living services, which may require a participant contribution under the applicable aged care contribution rules.

Support at Home and CHSP Have Different Arrangements

Not every older person receiving government-funded home support is currently covered by Support at Home.

The Commonwealth Home Support Programme operates separately and is expected to transition to Support at Home no earlier than July 2027. Its existing client contribution arrangements continue during this period.

Families should therefore not assume that every government-funded allied health service is contribution-free. The applicable rules depend on whether the person receives support through Support at Home, CHSP or a private arrangement.

The person’s provider or My Aged Care can confirm which program and contribution arrangements apply.

More Focused Support Through the Restorative Care Pathway

The Restorative Care Pathway provides short-term, coordinated support for older people who may benefit from rebuilding or maintaining their function. It may be suitable after:

• A fall
• A hospital stay
• A period of illness
• A noticeable decline in mobility
• A change affecting everyday independence

The pathway has a strong focus on allied health and works towards specific, time-limited goals.

A standard episode can provide up to 12 weeks of support. It may be extended to a maximum of 16 weeks in certain circumstances. Access is determined through an aged care assessment and is not automatically approved because someone needs physiotherapy or another allied health service.

An older person may also receive restorative care alongside ongoing Support at Home services when this has been assessed and approved.

Accessing Allied Health Through an Aged Care Assessment

The usual starting point is an aged care assessment arranged through My Aged Care. The assessor considers the person’s health, mobility, daily activities, home environment and support goals.

It helps to explain specific difficulties instead of making only a general request for physiotherapy or podiatry. For example:

• Foot pain is making it difficult to walk around the home
• The person is struggling to stand from a chair
• They have fallen or nearly fallen several times
• Their mobility has declined after a hospital stay
• They are having difficulty using a walking aid
• A health condition is affecting their nutrition or swallowing

Clear examples help demonstrate how the concern affects everyday function.

A GP or treating health professional may also provide relevant information. Referral requirements can vary according to the service, provider and clinical circumstances.

Responding When Allied Health Needs Change

An older person’s needs can change after their original assessment. A new diagnosis, fall, hospital admission or decline in mobility may mean their existing support plan is no longer suitable.

The person or family should raise the change with their provider or care partner. The provider can review the current services and determine whether an updated clinical recommendation or reassessment is needed.

Sudden weakness, severe pain, an unexplained change in walking or another rapid change in health requires timely medical advice. These concerns should not wait for a routine care review.

Finding Allied Health Services That Suit the Person’s Needs

The practitioner’s qualifications and experience should match the older person’s needs. Families should also consider whether home visits are available, how progress will be reviewed and how much of the person’s budget each session will use.

When comparing aged care allied health services, useful questions include:

• Does the practitioner have experience supporting older adults?
• Can the service be delivered at home?
• Is the service approved in the person’s support plan?
• How much will each session use from the available budget?
• Will the practitioner communicate with the GP or wider care team?
• How will progress and changing needs be reviewed?
• Are travel costs included in the service price?

A clear treatment goal and review process make it easier to understand whether the service is meeting the person’s needs.

Support for NDIS Participants and Their Families

Ability Support Plus supports NDIS participants rather than providing aged care services through the Support at Home program.

Some NDIS participants are also helping an ageing parent or family member manage changing health and care needs. During this time, we can continue helping the participant organise their own approved NDIS services and respond to changes affecting their support arrangements. Our team can help participants:

• Understand the funding in their NDIS plan
• Connect with suitable providers
• Organise approved disability supports
• Monitor how their plan is being used
• Respond when their own needs or circumstances change

Ability Support Plus cannot assess aged care eligibility or arrange Support at Home funding for an older family member.