End of Life Pathway
Many older Australians wish to remain in their own home, surrounded by family and familiar comforts, as they near the end of life. The Australian Government’s Support at Home End-of-Life Pathway helps make this possible by providing short-term, high-priority funding for additional home care services—so people can stay comfortable and supported at home, where it’s safe and their choice.
Nurse Next Door can support you and your family with compassionate end of life care at home through the Support at Home End-of-Life Pathway, delivered with dignity, respect, and a calm, consistent plan—because you deserve to live life your way, right to the end.
Devoted & Experienced End-of-Life Pathway Support
A clear plan and a caring team, when time matters most
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.
Funding support
-
Up to $25,000 in dedicated funding for additional in-home support
-
If funds remain after 12 weeks, they can be used for an additional 4 weeks—for a total of up to 16 weeks.
-
This End-of-Life Pathway budget replaces any other My Aged Care funding you may have during that time.
-
Designed for people with an expected life expectancy of 3 months or less, as confirmed by a doctor or nurse practitioner.
-
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
-
-
Clinical supports such as nursing care, plus allied health like OT and physiotherapy where appropriate
-
If approved, you’ll receive an individual support plan and budget to share with your provider. This may include a separate budget for assistive technology (products and equipment).
Our End-of-Life Pathway Services
Your professional care team can provide a range of supports to help you remain safely at home, with comfort and dignity.
We’ll talk with you about what matters most, your preferences, routines, cultural or spiritual needs, and how you want your days to feel. From there, we help shape a care plan that can evolve quickly as needs change, so you’re not left scrambling for help.
The End-of-Life Pathway can provide additional funding for urgent in-home services over a short period, to support things like personal care, domestic assistance, meals, transport, respite, and nursing support, based on your approved plan and eligibility.
Whether you need a little extra help each day or more intensive support, Nurse Next Door will put your needs first, so you can spend less time coordinating care, and more time simply being together.
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.
Support Where & 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.
How do I access End of Life Funding
Clients WITHOUT an existing Support at Home plan
A doctor or nurse practitioner must complete the official End-of-Life Pathway form as evidence of eligibility.
You (or your clinician/representative) can then request a high-priority assessment by:
-
Calling My Aged Care on 1800 200 422, or
-
Visiting an Aged Care Specialist Officer (ACSO) at select Services Australia centres, or
-
Using the My Aged Care “Apply online” tool.
Clients WITH an existing Support at Home plan
A doctor or nurse practitioner completes the End-of-Life Pathway form, and your provider can request an urgent Support Plan Review to transition you to the pathway—this generally avoids the need for a new aged care assessment.
Clients accessing state-funded palliative care or Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD)
-
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.
-
Using Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) services does not stop someone from accessing the End-of-Life Pathway—eligibility criteria and access are the same.
The Caring Journal
The Caring Journal is full of informative resources and client stories. With a focus on the positive side of ageing, and inclusivity, we hope our blog inspires you to embrace our Happier Ageing philosophy of care that will help you to remain in your own home, on your own terms, because we believe the best care happens at home.
Read our latest blogs here.