Short-term, high priority funding for additional home care services

End-of-Life Pathway with Nurse Next Door

Many older Australians wish to remain in their own home, surrounded by family and familiar comforts, as they near the end of life and the Support at Home End-of-Life Pathway makes this a possibility.

Designed for people with an expected life expectancy of 3 months or less, the End of Life Pathway provides up to $25,000 in dedicated funding for additional in-home care support. 

Nurse Next Door can support you and your family with compassionate end of life care at home, delivered with dignity, respect, and a calm, consistent plan, enabling you to live life your way, right to the end.

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Comfort, Dignity & Peace of Mind

Compassionate End-of-Life Care

We Respect
What Matters to You

End-of-life care is not only physical, it’s emotional, relational, and deeply personal. We take time to understand your goals, values, and what dignity looks like for you, so care feels respectful and truly person-centred.

Our role is to help create calm in a difficult time: supporting comfort, reducing stress, and making space for meaningful moments. We can also help your family feel supported and informed, encouraging open, gentle communication as decisions arise.

Above all, we honour your individuality, your choices, your culture, your beliefs, and your right to be cared for in a way that reflects who you are.

Our End-of-Life Pathway Services

Your Care team can provide a range of supports to help you remain at home, with comfort and dignity.

Services are based on your approved plan and align with Support at Home categories. The pathway can fund extra supports such as: Personal care (e.g., showering, dressing, toileting), Domestic assistance (e.g., cleaning, laundry), Meals and meal preparation, shopping and daily routines, Transport, Respite Care and Clinical Supports such as nursing care, plus allied health like OT and physiotherapy where appropriate

Nurse Next Door will put your needs first, so you can spend more time together.

Support Where and
When You Need It

Needs can change quickly at the end of life. Our goal is to respond with the right care at the right time, without delays, confusion, or unnecessary handovers.

We work in close contact with your broader health team to support smooth care coordination and a consistent plan at home. If services need to increase, we can adjust quickly and thoughtfully.

Most importantly, you will never feel alone. Your Nurse Next Door Care Team is here with steady, compassionate support, helping you and your family through each day and night with comfort and peace of mind.

A clear plan and a caring team, when time matters most

Devoted & Experienced
End-of-Life Support

When a loved one is nearing the end of life, everything can feel urgent and overwhelming. Alongside the emotional weight, there are practical decisions to make, what support is needed right now, who will help day-to-day, and how to keep care consistent as needs change.

That’s where we come in. Your Nurse Next Door Care Team works closely with you, your family, and your treating health professionals (including your GP and palliative care teams) to coordinate support that’s calm, respectful, and responsive.

The End-of-Life Pathway is designed to complement state and territory palliative care services (it doesn’t replace them), helping ensure practical supports are in place at home while specialist teams focus on comfort and symptom management.

More Support When You Need It

How do I access End-of-Life Funding

Clients accessing state funded palliative care

The End of Life Pathway works alongside state funded palliative care, so you may be able to access both at the same time if eligible. The End of Life pathway is designed to complement, not replace, state services which handle specialised symptom management. They run in parallel to provide comprehensive support.

Clients WITH an existing Support at Home plan

A doctor or nurse practitioner must complete the government's End of Life Pathway form to confirm a prognosis of less than 3 months to live. Your provider must then request an urgent Support Plan review to transition you to the End of Life pathway. As soon as this funding is approved the additional care can be provided.

Clients WITHOUT an existing Support at Home Plan

A doctor or nurse practitioner must complete the governments End of Life Pathway form to confirm a prognosis of less than 3 months to live. You must then request a high priority assessment from My Aged Care by calling 1800 200 422 or applying online. Once the funding is approved you can contact Nurse Next Door to arrange starting services.

Nurse Next Door's Support at Home Video Series

Helping you to Understand

Frequently asked Questions

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What is the Support at Home End-of-Life Pathway?

It’s a short-term, high-priority Support at Home pathway that helps eligible older people with 3 months or less to live access additional in-home aged care services to support them to remain at home (if they choose).

More information is available on the Support at Home page.

How much funding is available, and for how long?

Around $25,000 over 12 weeks, with the ability to use remaining funds for a total of up to 16 weeks.

Who is eligible?

Eligibility must be confirmed by a doctor or nurse practitioner, including:

  • Age - 65+ (or 50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)
  • Life expectancy of 3 months or less
  • AKPS score of 40 or less

What is an AKPS score?

AKPS (Australian-modified Karnofsky Performance Status) is a clinical tool used to describe someone’s functional status (how much support they need for daily activities). Eligibility requires a score of 40 or below. A score of 40 is commonly described as being in bed more than 50% of the time (which can also mean “in a chair”).

What services can the pathway cover?

The same types of services available through Support at Home, clinical supports, independence supports, and everyday living supports (e.g., nursing, personal care, cleaning, meals, transport, respite), based on your approved plan.

Does the End-of-Life Pathway replace palliative care?

No. It’s designed to complement state and territory palliative care services, helping bring extra day-to-day support into the home.

Can the End-of-Life Pathway be used more than once?

My Aged Care notes the End-of-Life Pathway can only be used once.

Will there be any costs?

Participants contribute to independence and everyday living services (based on income/assets). Clinical supports (like nursing) are fully funded by the government (no contribution).

Can the funding be used for equipment or home modifications?

My Aged Care notes your plan may include a separate budget for assistive technology (products and equipment). The Department also states participants may access some assistive technology funding but cannot receive funding for home modifications under this pathway.

Where can we get independent help if we have concerns?

The Department fact sheet notes you can contact the Aged Care Advocacy Line (OPAN) on 1800 700 600 for free, confidential support.

Our Success Stories

Real People, Real Impact

Our Clients Love Us!

Delivering a WOW Customer Experience

5

Nurse Next Door provided exceptional care for my mother. The staff/carers & nurses are client focused & consistent which suited my mum and I. Nothing was a bother, they were flexible & adaptable when needed & always available when on call. They were respectful, kind, caring & very supportive to the family unit. Thank you for your dedication in providing support that was tailored to the needs of mum.

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5

Tailored supports delivered with empathy and humour. The Ballarat Nurse Next Door team are highly skilled and always go above and beyond.

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5

We have only just begun our aged care journey. Just before I stumbled across Nurse Next Door it felt as though I’d been shopping for a used car with care factor 0, no understanding of situation, just number crunching with little human element and endless call backs chasing me for the business with no care felt whatsoever. Kylie was my first contact and she was highly professional, empathetic/understanding and totally accommodating to our situation. She revealed a little of the back story behind the business and what twins, Michelle & Nicole, are doing to provide a service to our local community like they do is noticed and appreciated! Omg am I so glad I found you. Thanks for showing up in my parent’s time of need. It’s early days but we already feel completely supported and heard. Keep up the pink! 🩷🌼🩷🌼🩷

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5

Head Nurse Sruthi and the whole team go above and beyond for their consumers. I’ve worked with them closely over the last few months with a rural consumer and their attention to care, communication & follow up has been phenomenal. I would recommend them to anybody, thanks again for all your hard work and help.

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5

Great businesses need to be spoken about and recommended; without doubt Nurse Next Door deserves this completely. I’ve been receiving nursing care from them for close to two years. Within that time, I can honestly say I have received nothing more than pure professionalism and a great service. Adding to this, I can say they are good people, kind people, and funny people who actually give a damn. This is very rare these days for other organisations who just treat you like a number. If you are in the need for great Nursing care or personalised Home Care Services, look no further than Nurse Next Door. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

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5

Amazing she help out a lot love having her here we have good chats good laughs together got nothing bad to say to be honest she doing a amazing job

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5

I have had a lot to do with arranging care for my father. Jonathan and his team are 10/10. It's not just a career for this Team they are all very caring and professional. Please don't hesitate to contact them and let them provide the best team of in-home help and peace of mind. You want need to look any further for the best care.

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5

Nurse Next Door are amazing!!! I feel so happy to have my mother cared for so well by the lovely carers that care for her. The house is always left so clean and tidy and the level of care is second to none. Angela in particular has been very kind and caring with my mum and the stress has been taken off me, her only daughter, as I know she is in great hands. Sarah also does an amazing job managing everything. I couldn't recommend them enough. 💖🙏👌💕

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5

Well explained

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Bringing you Peace of Mind

Why Nurse Next Door?

Quality Home Care That’s Personal and Professional

Every Care Plan is thoughtfully crafted, and every Caregiver is meticulously chosen to meet your needs.

Quality Home Care That’s Personal and Professional

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We Match You with Your Perfect Caregiver

We hand-pick the right person from our trusted team of Caregivers based on your needs, preferences and personality.

We Match You with Your Perfect Caregiver

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Reliable Care with Our Attendance Monitoring System

Our activity monitoring system closely monitors every visit to ensure Caregivers arrive on time and schedules run smoothly.

Reliable Care with Our Attendance Monitoring System

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Our Caregivers and Nurses are licensed, insured and highly qualified, with a minimum of two years’ experience.

Qualified & Insured Caregivers You Can Trust

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We Aim to Provide You The Same Caregiver Everytime

We want you to see a familiar face every visit. Your perfect match Caregiver will learn your routines and favorite foods.

We Aim to Provide You The Same Caregiver Everytime

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24/7 Live Calling Support

Speak with a real person in 30 seconds or less every time you call, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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Comprehensive Care at Every Age

Our services range from elder care to daily living support for people of all ages. Quality care, regardless of age.

Comprehensive Care at Every Age

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