Restorative Care
Management

Restorative care management is a specialised service delivered through the Restorative Care Pathway, a component of the government’s new Support at Home program. This management model is designed to help older Australians regain independence after a health setback, such as an illness or injury, through intensive, goal-oriented clinical support.

Aged care assessments determine eligibility for the Restorative Care Pathway based on a recent functional decline or setback, a likelihood of improvement through intensive, short-term clinical intervention, and the participant’s motivation to actively engage in reablement and set goals.

The Restorative Care Partner – Providers like Right at Home must assign a staff member with clinical qualifications (such as a nurse or allied health professional) to oversee the participant. Unlike general care managers, they provide clinical oversight and coordinate a multidisciplinary team.

Intensive Timeframe – Care is typically delivered over a 16-week period.

Goal-Based Planning – Management focuses on creating a "goal plan" (rather than a standard care plan) that identifies specific outcomes to be achieved within the 16-week window.

Multidisciplinary Coordination – Managers coordinate a team that may include physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, and nurses.

Exit Strategy – Planning for the end of the pathway begins at the start to ensure a smooth transition to ongoing support or independent living.

Budget Allocation – Each 16-week episode typically provides a unit of funding of approximately $6,000. Providers can request an additional $6,000 if intensive needs persist.

Claiming Fees – Providers claim management fees directly against the participant’s restorative care funding account. There is currently no government-set cap on restorative care management fees, though they must be "proportionate and in the participant's best interests".

Separate Budgeting – This funding is separate from any ongoing Support at Home budget, allowing intensive recovery work to proceed without reducing a participant's regular daily services.