Aged Care Garden Maintenance: What Support at Home May Cover 

A garden does not have to be perfect to be safe and liveable. 

But when lawns become overgrown, branches block a pathway or small repairs are left too long, the home can become harder to move around in. For older people living at home, support with gardening and home maintenance can help keep the property safer, easier to access and more manageable. 

Under Support at Home, some gardening and home maintenance may be included when it is part of the person’s assessed needs and support plan. 

The important part is understanding the difference between essential maintenance for safety and access and general gardening or home improvement. 

Yes, Support at Home may help with aged care garden maintenance where the work is needed to keep the home safe, liveable and accessible. 

The Support at Home service list includes Home maintenance and repairs under the Everyday Living category. This can include gardening, assistance with home maintenance and repairs, and some expenses for home maintenance and repairs. The service list says gardening may include essential light gardening such as lawn mowing, pruning and yard clearance for safe access.  

My Aged Care also explains that home maintenance and repairs can include light gardening, mowing, small repairs and expenses for small items such as a door handle or tap.  

So, if the garden or home environment is affecting safety, access or day-to-day living, it may be worth discussing with your provider or assessor. 

Gardening support under Support at Home is generally focused on safety and access, not appearance. 

This may include help with: 

For example, if an overgrown path makes it harder to get to the front door, clothesline, garden gate or bins, that may be different from wanting a garden redesigned for visual appeal. 

A simple way to think about it is: 

Support at Home may help with gardening that supports safe access and liveability, not general landscaping. 

Home maintenance is also focused on keeping the home safe and liveable. 

The Support at Home service list includes essential minor repairs and maintenance where the activity is something the person used to be able to do themselves, or where it is needed to maintain safety. Examples include cleaning gutters, replacing lightbulbs and repairing a broken door handle.  

My Aged Care gives similar examples, including essential minor repairs and purchasing small items such as a door handle or tap.  

This kind of help can matter because small household tasks can become difficult when mobility, balance, strength or vision changes. 

It may be as simple as replacing a lightbulb in a hallway so the person can move safely at night, or repairing a door handle so they can use a room properly. 

This is where people can get caught. 

Support at Home does not usually cover general gardening, landscaping or professional work that would normally be paid for privately. 

The service list says out-of-scope gardening may include professional gardening services such as tree removal, landscaping, farm or water feature maintenance, and gardening done for visual appeal rather than safety or accessibility, such as installing or maintaining plants, garden beds and compost.  

For home maintenance, out-of-scope items may include professional pest extermination, installing cabinetry or replacing carpets due to normal wear and tear, unless there is an imminent age-related safety risk, such as uneven flooring that creates a falls risk or carpet damaged by a wheelchair.  

Support at Home also does not usually cover things that are someone else’s responsibility, such as repairs that should be handled by a landlord, government housing authority or private insurance.  

Yes, a contribution may apply. 

Home maintenance and gardening sit under Everyday Living. Under Support at Home, Everyday Living services generally attract the highest participant contribution category, while Clinical supports are fully funded by government. The Support at Home guide explains that Everyday Living includes services such as cleaning, gardening, shopping and meal preparation.  

The exact amount a person contributes depends on their financial circumstances and the service being delivered. Your provider should explain how the service will appear in your care plan and monthly statement. 

Many people still search for home care package garden maintenance or home care package gardening because that was the older language. 

But Home Care Packages were replaced by Support at Home from 1 November 2025. The practical question now is whether gardening or home maintenance is included in your Support at Home care plan and whether it fits the service list. 

So, if you used to ask, “Can my Home Care Package pay for gardening?” the updated question is: 

Can Support at Home include gardening or home maintenance as part of my approved Everyday Living services? 

Before arranging home maintenance for elderly support needs, it may help to ask: 

These questions can help avoid confusion before the work begins. 

At Leora Healthcare, we help older Australians and families understand how gardening and home maintenance may fit within a Support at Home care plan. 

For some people, that may mean light gardening to keep pathways clear. For others, it may mean minor home maintenance that supports safety and easier movement around the home. 

Our team can help talk through what may be included, what may fall outside the program and how Everyday Living services can be planned alongside other support such as personal care, transport, meals or domestic assistance. 

If gardening or home maintenance is becoming harder to manage, speak with Leora Healthcare. We can help you understand what support may be suitable and how it can be arranged as part of your care.