Published by SESI Care Services · Updated August 2026 · 2-minute summary
Quick answer: Signs it may be time for more support include muddled or unopened medication, repeat falls or new bruising, a wound that isn’t healing, an empty fridge, a house that’s suddenly cluttered, avoiding the shower, confusion, missed appointments, withdrawing from friends and a carer who is exhausted. Start with a GP for anything medical, call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 for an assessment, or the NDIA on 1800 800 110 if your family member is already a participant.
Key takeaways
- This is a notice-and-act guide, not a diagnosis — a GP or assessor makes the actual call, and ageing itself is not failure.
- Health and medication signs — unopened tablets, repeat falls, a wound that won’t heal — start with the GP.
- Home and daily task signs — clutter, avoiding the shower, new incontinence — usually mean a task has become physically hard, not that standards have slipped.
- Mood and connection signs — confusion, missed appointments, withdrawing from friends — deserve a gentle conversation and a professional look, never a home diagnosis.
- A carer who is exhausted is itself a sign support is needed, for everyone’s sake.
- Call 1800 200 422 (My Aged Care) for an assessment, or 1800 800 110 (NDIA) if your family member already has an NDIS plan.
- Some signs need help the same day — see the box further down.
What health and medication signs mean it’s time for more help?
If medication looks muddled or falls are becoming more frequent, treat it as a signal to book a GP review, not something to watch and wait on.
- Unopened medication or muddled doses. A pill organiser still full on a Friday, or the wrong compartment empty, usually means the routine has become too hard to manage alone — not carelessness.
- Repeat falls or new bruising. One trip is common. A pattern of falls, or bruises that can’t quite be explained, points to a change in balance, strength, medication side effects or vision worth investigating.
- A wound or sore that isn’t healing. A cut, pressure sore or skin tear still open after a week or two needs clinical attention, especially for someone with diabetes or fragile skin.
- Unexplained weight loss or an empty fridge. Loose clothing, a bare fridge, or the same frozen meal every visit can mean cooking has become too tiring, or that appetite has changed.
The GP is the first call for all of these — they can check medications, order tests and refer on. SESI’s community nursing service can set up medication support and monitor a wound between GP visits, alongside physiotherapy and occupational therapy for the strength and balance side of repeat falls — see our guide on in-home physiotherapy for older adults.
What signs around the home and daily tasks are worth noticing?
If the home or personal care routine looks different from a few months ago, it’s usually because a task has become physically or mentally harder — not a change in what your family member cares about.
- Wearing the same clothes. Visit after visit in the same outfit can mean laundry has piled up, or that getting dressed has become difficult.
- A house that’s suddenly cluttered or unclean. Dishes stacking up, bins not going out, or mess in a previously tidy home often means the physical effort of housework has outpaced energy or mobility.
- Avoiding the shower. Skipping showers, or showering less often than before, is frequently about fear of falling on a wet floor, or the physical effort of getting in and out — not about hygiene not mattering.
- New incontinence. A new pattern of accidents, or a sudden reliance on pads, is a health change worth raising with the GP — often manageable once the cause is found, and common enough not to be embarrassing.
These tasks can be shared with a support worker so your family member keeps their energy for what they enjoy — see household tasks and assistance with personal activities. If they’re an NDIS participant, our guide to how many domestic assistance hours are in an NDIS plan explains the funding.
What signs around mood, memory and connection matter?
Changes in mood or memory are worth raising with a GP early — they can be caused by many things, and a home visit is never the place to work out which one.
- Confusion or repeated calls. Ringing several times about the same thing, or losing track of a conversation, is worth a GP assessment. It doesn’t mean dementia — there are many treatable causes, from a urinary tract infection to a medication interaction.
- Missed appointments. A pattern of forgotten medical, dental or NDIS appointments can point to memory changes, or simply that keeping track has become overwhelming.
- Withdrawing from friends. Turning down catch-ups or stopping a regular activity can be about low mood, hearing or mobility making it harder to get out, or grief. Whatever the cause, staying connected matters for health as much as for happiness.
The GP is the right first stop for a change in memory or mood. Once a plan is in place, keeping up community connection is something support workers can help with — see community participation programs for older adults.
What signs point to family and safety, not just the older person?
Sometimes the clearest sign isn’t in your family member at all — it’s in the people around them, or in the paperwork on the table.
- A carer who is exhausted. If you or another family member is worn out, in pain from lifting, or dreading the next visit, that’s a sign support is needed — not a sign you’re failing. Our guide on training family carers in safe manual handling covers safer ways to help with transfers while support is arranged.
- Unpaid bills. A stack of unopened bills or final notices can mean paperwork has become confusing, or money is tighter than it used to be. Either way, it’s worth a gentle conversation before it becomes urgent.
- Driving concerns. New dents, near misses, or getting lost on a familiar route are worth raising with the GP, who can arrange a driving assessment if needed — safer coming from a doctor than from family alone.
Get help today
Some signs are not a “start a conversation this week” situation — they need care the same day.
Call 000, or see a GP the same day, if you notice: sudden confusion, chest pain, a fall with an injury, or a wound that’s hot, spreading or smelly. These can point to an infection, a stroke, a heart problem or a fracture, and waiting can make the outcome worse.
Which sign, and who to talk to first
| If you’ve noticed… | Talk to first |
|---|---|
| Muddled medication, repeat falls, a slow-healing wound, weight loss | GP |
| Clutter, avoiding the shower, new incontinence, same clothes | GP (for incontinence) and a support provider for daily tasks |
| Confusion, missed appointments, withdrawing from friends | GP, then My Aged Care or the NDIA for an assessment |
| A carer who’s exhausted, unpaid bills, driving concerns | GP, and a family conversation about support |
| Sudden confusion, chest pain, a fall with injury, a hot/spreading/smelly wound | 000, or a GP the same day |
What happens after you raise it?
A GP referral isn’t required for NDIS-funded therapy or community nursing, but the GP is still a sensible first stop when the trigger is a health change — they can check for a medical cause before support is arranged.
- 65 or over (50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and not on the NDIS: call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au for an assessment for Support at Home, which funds nursing, personal care, allied health and household support. The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing explains the program.
- Already an NDIS participant: call the NDIA on 1800 800 110 — see ndis.gov.au — or speak with their support coordinator about adding a support.
- Not eligible for either, or waiting on an assessment: privately funded support at home is available without one.
None of this means losing independence. Support arranged early is usually what lets someone stay in their own home for longer, and it’s often less about doing things for them than making the things they still want to do easier. Our guide to community nursing at home explains what a nurse visit involves, and our piece on the whole-of-person approach explains why joining up nursing, allied health and personal care with one provider tends to work better than juggling several.
Frequently asked questions
How do I bring this up without upsetting them?
Start with what you’ve noticed, not a conclusion — “I noticed the bins haven’t gone out, is everything okay?” rather than “you can’t manage anymore.” Most older adults have insight into what’s become harder and appreciate being part of the decision.
Does one sign mean they need to leave home?
No. Almost all of these signs can be managed with support delivered at home — nursing, personal care, household help or allied health — rather than a move. Support at Home and the NDIS are both built around helping people stay home.
What if they refuse help?
Understandable — accepting help can feel like losing independence. Involving the GP, keeping the first offer small (one task, one visit), and revisiting the conversation later often works better than pushing for everything at once.
Is this the same as diagnosing dementia?
No. Confusion and memory changes have many causes, some short-term and treatable — infection, dehydration, medication side effects, poor sleep — and only a GP or specialist assessment can tell which. Never assume dementia from what you notice on a visit.
What if I’m not sure it’s serious enough to call anyone?
Call anyway. My Aged Care and NDIA staff are used to families unsure where their situation fits, and a GP appointment doesn’t commit you to anything.
Talk to SESI
If you’ve noticed a change in a family member or friend anywhere in Victoria, tell us what’s going on and we’ll call you back to talk through it.
Tell us what’s going on: sesi.com.au/referral · Call: 1800 017 374
This guide is general information based on My Aged Care and NDIA guidance and Department of Health, Disability and Ageing material on Support at Home, current at August 2026. It is not a diagnosis and not advice about your individual situation. In an emergency call 000. For an aged care assessment call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. If your family member is already an NDIS participant, call the NDIA on 1800 800 110.
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