Restorative Care Pathway
This page is written for adult children, spouses and primary carers organising care for a loved one after a hospital stay, fall or decline.
Family Recovery Brief

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When a parent comes home from hospital, or you notice they're struggling more than they let on, it can be hard to know what to do first. The aged care system is confusing, the options aren't clear, and you're probably managing this on top of everything else in your life. This page tries to make it simpler, in plain English, with one clear next step at the end.

Avanza can speak directly with your parent if that's easier, you don't have to be the go-between for every conversation.

Older adult supported at home by an Avanza clinician

Plain-English guide

The questions we hear from families like yours, answered honestly.

What is restorative care and why does it matter right now?

Restorative care is a short-term, intensive program that focuses on helping your loved one regain what they've lost. Not on managing them. It's funded separately to any regular Support at Home package, which means it's additional money available specifically for recovery, not taken from existing services. The best time to access it is soon after something changes, a hospital discharge, a fall, or a noticeable decline, while recovery is still the most realistic goal.

What does it actually look like day to day?

An Avanza clinician visits at home (or your parent comes to a clinic if that works better). Together they set one specific, practical goal, something like getting dressed independently, walking to the letterbox, or managing the morning routine without help. Then the sessions are built around reaching that goal over up to 16 weeks. It's not a generic exercise program, it's targeted to what your parent actually needs to get back to.

How much does it cost?

The Restorative Care Pathway provides approximately $6,000 in government funding per episode, separate to any existing Support at Home package. The episode has to be approved through My Aged Care (a quick assessment process), and Avanza can help you arrange that. Out-of-pocket contributions may apply for some services, your care planner will confirm exactly what applies before anything begins.

What if my parent is already getting Support at Home services?

Restorative care runs alongside existing services, it doesn't replace or reduce them. If your parent already has a Support at Home package, the restorative care episode sits on top of it. They keep their existing support and get the intensive recovery program as well.

Why does the provider matter?

Not every provider can deliver this. The pathway requires a qualified clinical care partner and an allied health team, most coordination-only home care providers don't have this. If your parent's current provider can't deliver restorative care, they'd have to switch providers to access it. Avanza can deliver both. So your parent stays with one team for their ongoing support and their recovery.

Avanti Exercise Physiologist supporting an older adult with balance and mobility

The funding facts, in plain terms.

Restorative care is government-funded. It's not something you pay for privately. Here's what the numbers actually mean:

~$6,000 per episode, approved through My Aged Care. Additional to any existing Support at Home funding.

Up to 16 weeks of support. Up to 2 episodes per year, at least 90 days apart.

Your parent's existing services continue unchanged while restorative care runs alongside.

For families and carers

What you can do to support the recovery, and what's best left to the clinicians.

The people who love someone recover alongside them. One of the most helpful things Avanza does is give families a simple, practical guide so you know how to help without accidentally getting in the way. Here's the outline, your care planner will tailor it to your parent's specific goals and situation.

Encourage, do these things

Little things that make a real difference

  • Celebrate small wins, they signal progress the clinician needs to know about
  • Encourage your parent to attempt the tasks in their goal, even when it's slow
  • Keep the home environment consistent with what the OT has assessed
  • Tell Avanza if something changes, a new fall, a health event, a change in mood
Be careful, don't take over

The hardest part, stepping back

  • Don't do things they're working toward doing themselves, even when it's quicker if you just do it
  • Avoid making the home "safer" by removing challenge, talk to the OT first
  • Try not to show worry when they attempt something, their confidence is part of the recovery
Call Avanza when…

When to pick up the phone and call us

  • Your parent has another fall or health event during the episode
  • You're not sure whether to step in or step back in a specific situation
  • Your parent's mood or motivation changes significantly
  • You have questions about what happens after the episode ends

What to do now

Three steps. You only need to do the first one.

1

Reach out to Avanza

Call or send a quick note about what's happened. You don't need to know whether your parent qualifies, or understand how the aged care system works. Just tell us what's going on and we'll work through the rest with you.

2

We sort out the assessment together

Eligibility goes through My Aged Care. Avanza will walk you and your parent through exactly what's involved and help arrange it, you won't be left to figure out the system on your own.

3

Recovery begins, and we keep you in the loop

Once approved, Avanza works out the recovery plan directly with your parent. You'll get a simple guide for how to support them at home, what to encourage, what's better left to the clinicians, and who to call if something changes.

Talk to Avanza

You don't need to have it figured out. Just tell us what's happening.

A few sentences about what's happened is enough. Avanza will come back to you with a plain-English answer about whether this is likely to help, and exactly what the next step looks like. No commitment, no aged care jargon.

A real person will respond within one business day. Not an automated reply, someone who can actually help.

Or call us directly, 1300 243 348 · Mon–Fri 8:30am–5pm

Not sure where to start? Avanza can help you work it out.
Call 1300 243 348