Cleaning Planner by My VIP Cleaning helps seniors stay safe, comfortable, and independent at home.

As we get older, keeping the home clean and safe can quietly turn into a heavy burden. Bathrooms become slippery, bending down to scrub or mop hurts the back and knees, and even simple tasks like vacuuming or taking out the rubbish can feel exhausting. Many seniors still want to stay at home and live independently, but household cleaning becomes harder and harder to manage.

The good news is that in Australia, the government’s Home Care Package (HCP) program can help. Through HCP funding, older people may be able to receive regular cleaning and domestic assistance so they don’t have to carry the whole burden alone.

What This Guide Covers

• Who can apply for a Home Care Package
• When cleaning and domestic help can be funded
• How the ACAT/ACAS assessment works
• What cleaning tasks are usually included
• How family members can support their loved ones
• How Cleaning Planner by My VIP Cleaning makes life easier

1. Who Can Apply for a Home Care Package?

You do not need to be extremely unwell or in a nursing home to apply. Home Care Packages are designed for older people who:

• Want to stay living at home
• Need support with daily activities, including housework and cleaning

You may be eligible if you:

• Are 65 years or older (or 50+ for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people), and
• Experience difficulty with home cleaning due to mobility, health or fatigue

Common Situations That Lead to Eligibility

• Knee, back or joint pain that makes bending painful
• Arthritis, heart conditions or breathing issues that cause fatigue
• Reduced strength for vacuuming or mopping
• Feeling unsteady and worrying about slipping
• Living alone, or having limited family support

The assessment is not just about age—it is about how daily life is affected.

2. Can Cleaning Services Be Funded by a Home Care Package?

Yes — cleaning is one of the most commonly funded supports in a Home Care Package.

Domestic Assistance (Home Help)

This typically includes:

• Bathroom cleaning (shower, toilet, tiles)
• Kitchen wipe-downs (benches, sink, stove area)
• Vacuuming and mopping
• Dusting surfaces
• Changing bed linen
• Light laundry assistance
• Emptying bins and replacing rubbish bags

For many seniors, cleaning is not about keeping a “nice” home—it is about safety:

• Reducing fall risks
• Preventing mould or bacteria
• Maintaining hygiene and dignity

3. How to Apply for a Home Care Package

Step 1: Start the Application

Through My Aged Care:

• Online via the My Aged Care website
• Or by calling the contact centre

Step 2: At-Home ACAT/ACAS Assessment

An assessor will visit the home to understand:

• Daily activities (showering, cooking, cleaning)
• Mobility and fall risks
• Cleaning capacity

Step 3: Package Level Assignment

From Level 1 (basic needs) to Level 4 (complex support).

Step 4: Choosing a Home Care Provider

When funding becomes available, cleaning can be included as part of the Home Care agreement.

4. What Cleaning Tasks Are Commonly Funded?

• Bathroom cleaning
• Kitchen cleaning
• Vacuuming & mopping
• Dusting & wiping surfaces
• Changing bed sheets
• General home tidying
• Clearing walkways to reduce fall risks

5. How a Cleaning Planner Supports Seniors and Families

5.1 Not Just Cleaning — But Planning

A Cleaning Planner will:

• Review home layout and risk areas
• Build a personalised cleaning plan
• Ensure safety-focused cleaning each visit
• Maintain long-term cleanliness and organisation

5.2 Peace of Mind for Families

Families often worry about:

• Falls in the bathroom
• Elderly parents over-exerting themselves
• Homes becoming unsafe or unhygienic

A Cleaning Planner provides ongoing support, communication and monitoring.

5.3 Works Seamlessly With Home Care Providers

Because Cleaning Planner visits are regular and structured, it is easier for Providers to:

• Allocate funds consistently
• Ensure ongoing hygiene & safety
• Maintain predictable care planning

6. When Is Cleaning Support Most Likely to Be Approved?

• Mobility issues or chronic pain
• Fatigue after basic cleaning
• Difficulty cleaning bathrooms safely
• Clutter and hygiene decline
• Living alone without regular help

7. How Family Members Can Help

• Assist with contacting My Aged Care
• Attend the ACAT assessment
• Explain observed difficulties
• Request domestic assistance be added to the care plan

8. Final Thoughts: Cleaning Is Not a Luxury — It Is Living Well

Cleaning is closely tied to safety, health and independence. If government funding is available to make life safer and easier for seniors, it is absolutely worth using.

At My VIP Cleaning, our Cleaning Planner service helps seniors maintain a dignified, clean and comfortable home environment over the long term.

Call to Action

If you or a loved one is finding it difficult to keep up with home cleaning — or if you already have a Home Care Package and want to include domestic assistance — Contact My VIP Cleaning today. We’re here to help.