End-of-Life Pathway: Enhanced Support for Home-Based Palliative Care

From 1 July 2025, the new Support at Home program introduces a dedicated End-of-Life Pathway, providing urgent access to additional in-home aged care services for individuals with a prognosis of less than three months to live.

This initiative reflects a commitment to honouring the preferences of many Australians who wish to spend their final days in the comfort of their own home, supported by family and loved ones.

Key Features of the End-of-Life Pathway

• Eligibility:
  Individuals must have a prognosis of less than three months to live, confirmed by a doctor or nurse practitioner, and a Karnofsky Performance Status (AKPS) score of 40 or less (indicating significant frailty).
• Funding Allocation:
  Up to $25,000 is made available over a 12-week period (with a total of 16 weeks to fully utilise the funds if needed).
• Services Covered:
  The funding can be used for regular aged care services listed under Support at Home, including:
  • Clinical care (e.g., nursing)
  • Personal care
  • Respite services
  • Assistance with meals, cleaning, transport, and social support
  • Access to assistive technology (but not new home modifications unless already underway before entering the pathway).
• Complementary Support:
  Specialist palliative care services (such as symptom management, pain relief, and advance care planning) will continue to be provided by state and territory health services, such as NSW Health Palliative Care teams. The End-of-Life Pathway offers extra aged care supports to complement, not replace, these clinical services.

Transition from Home Care Packages to Support at Home

For clients already receiving care through a Home Care Package (HCP), the transition to Support at Home has been designed to ensure continuity with minimal disruption.

Existing palliative care arrangements will continue, and the End-of-Life Pathway offers an enhanced level of support and funding to meet the changing needs of individuals nearing end-of-life.

What This Means for Current Clients

• Continued Care:
  Specialist palliative care services through NSW Health or other health providers will continue without interruption.
• Enhanced Home Support:
  Clients eligible for the End-of-Life Pathway will have access to an additional $25,000 in aged care services to support comfort, safety, and dignity.
• Coordinated Care:
  Home Care Assistance will work closely with clients, families, and palliative care teams to integrate both health and aged care supports seamlessly. We can also help arrange necessary assistive technology and coordinate with government funding schemes to ensure supports are in place quickly.

Accessing the End-of-Life Pathway

To utilise the End-of-Life Pathway under the Support at Home program:

• Medical Certification:
  A doctor or nurse practitioner must complete an official End-of-Life Pathway Form confirming eligibility.
• Application Process:
  • For existing Support at Home participants, a high-priority Support Plan Review will be organised through My Aged Care once the form is submitted.
  • For new participants, a high-priority aged care assessment will confirm eligibility and establish care arrangements.
• Care Planning:
  Once approved, a tailored care plan will be developed in collaboration with the participant, their family, and their care providers to make the best use of the funding during the end-of-life period. Care providers must conduct regular reviews and updates to the care plan, based on changing needs.

Important to Know

Under Support at Home, entering the End-of-Life Pathway temporarily replaces a participant’s existing classification for up to 16 weeks, providing up to $25,000 in extra support.

A participant can only access the End-of-Life Pathway once. If the participant lives longer than the expected three months, or if their health improves, they will not continue on the End-of-Life Pathway indefinitely.

Instead, they will:

• Transition back to their original Support at Home classification (if they were an existing participant), or
• Move to a new classification that matches their current care needs, based on a new assessment.

This ensures that everyone continues to receive the most appropriate level of support based on their situation.

How Home Care Assistance Supports You

At Home Care Assistance Sydney East, we are deeply committed to supporting our clients and families with compassion and dignity through every stage of life.

Our team will:

• Help organise assessments and paperwork
• Develop flexible and sensitive care plans
• Liaise with palliative care teams and healthcare providers
• Provide emotional support and practical guidance to families during this important time

If you would like more information about the End-of-Life Pathway, how to access it, or how we can support you or a loved one, please reach out our team. We are here to help!