Older Australians supported to live at home for longer

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S CHANGES TO THE AGED CARE SECTOR:

* Older Australians will be able to live in their own homes and communities for longer under a $4.3 billion program that will provide support for clinical care, independent and everyday living

* The Support at Home scheme allows the government to cover the entire cost of clinical care services such as nursing while individuals will make means-tested contributions for measures regarding independence and everyday living

* The program is expected to support more than 300,000 people in the next 10 years

* New laws will also be introduced to protect older Australians in aged care

* The aged care regulator will be given stronger investigative powers and a new, independent statutory complaints commissioner will be established alongside fresh whistleblower protections

* Aged care providers and people in positions of leadership will be held accountable and the new laws will also provide a compensation pathway

* New aged care quality standards will also be implemented to improve the sector and drive higher-quality care

* The rights of older Australians in aged care will be enshrined in new laws, which providers will be forced to abide by