Key differences and hourly rates
- Personal care involves intimate physical hygiene and bathing, starting from $85 per hour.
- Domestic assistance covers cleaning, laundry, and meals around the house, starting from $83 per hour.
- Personal care workers undergo specialized manual handling, hoist, and infection control training.
- Both supports can be combined during a single care visit to suit your routine.
What personal care includes
Personal care provides hands on physical support for private self care activities. This includes assisting someone to transfer into and out of the shower, washing hair, drying skin safely, applying moisturiser, dressing, grooming hair and teeth, and providing discreet toileting or continence support.
Personal care workers receive formal training in biomechanics, manual handling, privacy preservation, and monitoring skin condition to prevent pressure injuries.
What domestic assistance includes
Domestic assistance focuses on the physical environment of the home rather than direct bodily care. Support includes vacuuming floors, mopping tiles, sanitising kitchen and bathroom surfaces, washing dishes, laundering clothing, changing bed linen, and preparing fresh meals.
By keeping the house clean, tidy, and safe, domestic assistance eliminates major trip hazards and relieves heavy physical strain for older people or individuals living with disability.
Can one worker provide both services?
Yes. Many families schedule visits that combine both forms of support. For example, a care worker might spend the first forty minutes assisting with a shower, skin care, and dressing, then spend the remaining hour laundering sheets and cleaning the kitchen.
Combining supports creates consistent routines and reduces the number of different people visiting the home each week.
Next step
Tell us what would make your home routine easier. Call Living Well At Home on 0426 533 700 to plan your visits, or send an enquiry through our contact page.
Common questions
Can a domestic cleaner assist my mother in the shower?
No. Shower assistance requires formal training in manual handling, fall prevention, and hygiene care. Cleaners should never provide personal bodily care.
Can a personal care worker do light cleaning during a visit?
Yes. Support workers can assist with light household tasks that directly support client comfort and safety, such as wiping benches or washing dishes.
Does government funding cover both services?
Yes. My Aged Care Home Care Packages and NDIS plans fund both personal care and domestic assistance based on assessed client goals.
Which service should we start with if Mum is nervous about strangers?
Domestic assistance is usually the easiest entry point. Having someone vacuum or do laundry feels comfortable and builds trust before personal care begins.
Sources and further reading
This guide is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice. If you are worried about your health, call your GP. In an emergency, call 000.