How to Apply for My Aged Care Support at Home Funding and Choose Your Own Cleaner in Adelaide

As we get older, everyday tasks such as vacuuming, mopping, cleaning bathrooms and maintaining the garden can become increasingly difficult.

For many older Australians, staying in their own home is incredibly important. It's where memories have been made, routines are familiar and independence is valued.

The good news? You may be eligible for government-subsidised cleaning and gardening services through My Aged Care.

At Glo Living, we believe that getting older shouldn't mean giving up the comfort and independence of living at home. Our Adelaide-based team supports older Australians with reliable, respectful domestic assistance and gardening services.

In this guide, we'll explain how to apply for aged care assistance, understand your funding options and request Glo Living as your preferred cleaning or gardening provider.

What Is the Support at Home Program?

The Australian Government introduced the Support at Home program on 1 November 2025, replacing the previous Home Care Packages program and the Short-term Restorative Care Programme.

Support at Home is designed to help eligible older Australians continue living safely and independently in their own homes.

Depending on your assessed needs, services may include:

• Domestic assistance and general house cleaning
• Laundry and everyday household tasks
• Lawn mowing and light gardening to keep your home safe and accessible
• Personal care and other independence supports
• Nursing and allied health services
• Assistance with shopping and meal preparation

Not everyone needs the same level of assistance. Some people may only require a regular cleaner, while others benefit from a broader range of home support services.

The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) also continues to operate for older Australians requiring entry-level assistance.

Why Cleaning and Gardening Are Important for Ageing at Home

Maintaining a clean and well-kept home is about much more than appearances.

1. Reducing the Risk of Falls

Wet floors, cluttered walkways and overgrown garden paths can create hazards. Regular cleaning and garden maintenance help keep living areas safer and more accessible.

2. Maintaining a Hygienic Home

Regular bathroom and kitchen cleaning helps reduce dirt, grime and everyday hygiene risks, particularly for older Australians who may have difficulty completing these tasks independently.

3. Supporting Independence

Having assistance with physically demanding household tasks allows older people to conserve their energy for activities they enjoy.

4. Providing Peace of Mind for Families

Knowing that a loved one has regular, dependable household assistance can provide reassurance to family members who may not always be available to help.

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility for My Aged Care

Government-subsidised aged care is generally available to Australians aged 65 years and over, or 50 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with some additional eligibility pathways.

Eligibility is based on your individual circumstances and support needs.

You may benefit from an assessment if you:

• Find household cleaning physically difficult
• Struggle to maintain your garden or outdoor areas
• Experience reduced mobility or age-related frailty
• Need assistance to continue living independently
• Have family members who are increasingly concerned about your safety at home

You do not necessarily need complex medical conditions to qualify for some forms of aged care support.

Step 2: Apply for a My Aged Care Assessment

The first step is contacting My Aged Care.

You can apply in two simple ways:

• Online: visit myagedcare.gov.au
• By phone: call 1800 200 422

During the application, you will be asked questions about your living arrangements, health, daily activities and areas where you may need assistance.

Be open about the tasks you're finding difficult.

For example, if you're struggling to mop floors, change bedding, clean the bathroom or maintain your garden, make sure you mention these during your assessment.

An aged care assessor will review your needs and determine which services and funding program may be appropriate.

A family member or trusted support person can also help you through this process.

Step 3: Understand Your Cleaning and Gardening Funding

Depending on your assessment, you may be approved for services through CHSP or Support at Home.

Under Support at Home, eligible participants receive funding based on their assessed care needs.

Domestic assistance and gardening are generally classified as Everyday Living services.

It's important to understand that these services are not necessarily free. Many participants contribute towards their costs, depending on their financial circumstances and applicable program rules.

Your aged care provider or care partner can explain your available budget, approved services and any participant contributions before services commence.

Step 4: Can You Choose Your Own Aged Care Cleaner?

One of the most common questions families ask is:

"Do I have to use the cleaning company my aged care provider recommends?"

Not necessarily.

Older Australians have an important say in how their aged care services are delivered, including expressing preferences about the workers and organisations supporting them.

If you already have a preferred cleaning or gardening company, you can discuss this with your aged care provider or care partner.

For example, you can request Glo Living as your preferred domestic assistance or gardening provider.

Your registered aged care provider will need to confirm that the arrangement is suitable, meets applicable requirements and can be accommodated within your approved services and budget. Under Support at Home, your services are managed by one registered provider, which may arrange for another organisation to deliver some of them.

How to Request Glo Living

Simply contact your care partner or aged care provider and explain:

"Hi, I would like to request Glo Living as my preferred provider for my ongoing home cleaning or gardening services. Could you please let me know whether they can be engaged under my current aged care arrangements? Their phone number is (08) 7428 9000 and their email is hello@gloliving.com.au."

Our administration team can then discuss the referral and service arrangements with your provider.

Step 5: What Cleaning Services Can Glo Living Provide?

At Glo Living, we understand that every home and every client is different.

Our domestic assistance services can include:

• Vacuuming and mopping floors
• Cleaning kitchens and bathrooms
• Dusting and wiping household surfaces
• General household tidying
• Changing bed linen
• Laundry assistance
• Cleaning commonly used living areas
• Other approved household assistance tasks

Services are tailored to individual needs and the agreed scope of support.

Step 6: Can My Aged Care Funding Cover Gardening?

Yes, eligible older Australians may be able to access light gardening and yard maintenance through their approved aged care services.

At Glo Living, our gardening team can assist with:

• Lawn mowing
• Whipper snipping and edging
• Weeding garden beds
• Light pruning and hedge maintenance
• General garden tidying
• Maintaining accessible outdoor areas
• Green waste management, where arranged

Funded gardening covers essential light gardening that keeps your home safe and accessible, such as mowing, pruning and yard clearance. Work done mainly for appearance, such as new plants and garden beds, and professional services such as landscaping or tree removal, are not funded, but we can quote for them privately. Gardening services must align with your assessed needs and funding arrangements. Additional charges may apply for certain products or waste disposal.

Our goal is to help older Australians enjoy their outdoor spaces without the physical strain of maintaining them alone.

Why Choose Glo Living for Aged Care Cleaning and Gardening in Adelaide?

Glo Living is a proudly South Australian business supporting older Australians and people living with disability throughout Adelaide.

We understand that inviting someone into your home requires trust, consistency and respect.

A Local Adelaide Team

Our cleaners and gardeners understand the needs of the communities we service. We take pride in building ongoing relationships with our clients and their families.

Experience Working Alongside Aged Care Providers

We work with aged care organisations and care partners to coordinate cleaning, gardening and home support services.

A Personalised Approach

Whether you need weekly cleaning, fortnightly gardening or a combination of services, we work to arrange support that suits your circumstances.

Professional Service Coordination

Our team uses digital scheduling and service records to support accountability, communication and reliable service delivery.

Respect, Dignity and Independence

We believe every older Australian deserves to feel comfortable and respected in their own home.

Our role is not simply to clean a house or maintain a garden. It's to help make everyday life easier.

Getting Started With Glo Living

If you or a loved one already receives aged care services, speak with your care partner about nominating Glo Living for cleaning or gardening assistance.

If you're new to aged care, begin by contacting My Aged Care to arrange an assessment.

You can also contact our friendly administration team to discuss the services we offer and how referrals work.

Contact Glo Living

Call (08) 7428 9000, Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm, or email hello@gloliving.com.au.

Disclaimer: Government aged care eligibility, approved services, participant contributions and provider arrangements vary. Information is general and should be confirmed with My Aged Care or your registered aged care provider.