Finding the right shoes can make a major difference for older adults who want to stay mobile, comfortable and independent at home.

If you are searching for Home Care Package shoes, you may be looking for supportive footwear for an older parent, a client, or yourself. This may include shoes for swollen feet, arthritis, diabetes, balance concerns, orthotics, bunions, hammertoes or difficulty putting shoes on.

At Barefoot Freedom, we help older Australians find footwear that is easier to wear, more supportive and better suited to complex foot needs.

Important update: the Australian Government’s Support at Home program replaced the Home Care Packages Program and Short-Term Restorative Care Programme on 1 November 2025. Many people still search for “Home Care Package shoes,” but the current program terminology is now Support at Home.

Can You Get Shoes Through a Home Care Package or Support at Home?

Footwear may be considered when it relates to an older person’s assessed needs, independence, safety, mobility or self-care.

Under Support at Home, the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme, also called AT-HM, gives eligible participants access to products, equipment and home adjustments based on assessed needs. My Aged Care explains that assistive technology includes products and equipment that make tasks easier and safer and help people keep doing activities independently.

The Support at Home provider manual also lists self-care assistive products as including adaptive clothing or shoes.

This does not mean every pair of shoes is automatically funded. The footwear generally needs to be linked to a genuine functional need, such as mobility, independence, safety, self-care, falls risk, foot deformity, swelling or difficulty using standard shoes.

How the Process Works

Step 1: Identify the Footwear Need

The person may need shoes because standard footwear is causing pain, pressure, instability or difficulty with mobility.

Step 2: Speak With Your Support at Home Provider

Your provider can help determine whether footwear is appropriate under your support plan and whether further assessment or documentation is needed. My Aged Care states that if a product or equipment needs a prescription, the provider arranges an assessment from a suitably qualified health professional and works with them to source and supply the item.

Step 3: Book a Fitting With Barefoot Freedom

Barefoot Freedom can help assess fit, width, depth, fastening style, sole stability and orthotic compatibility.

Step 4: Choose Suitable Footwear

We help match the person to footwear that supports comfort, mobility and independence.

Step 5: Provide Invoice or Supporting Information

Where required, we can provide product details, invoices and fitting information to support the process. Under Support at Home pricing rules, costs for assistive technology and home modifications must be agreed and documented before purchasing.

When May Supportive Shoes Be Needed?

Older adults may benefit from supportive or medical-grade footwear when regular retail shoes are no longer suitable.

Common reasons include:

Swollen feet or oedema
Arthritis in the feet, knees, hips or hands
Diabetes or reduced sensation
Bunions, hammertoes or changed foot shape
Poor balance or falls risk
Difficulty bending down to put shoes on
Difficulty tying laces
Orthotics that no longer fit inside standard shoes
Shoes rubbing, slipping or causing pressure areas
Reduced walking confidence at home or in the community

For many older adults, shoes are not just a comfort item. They can affect walking, transfers, balance confidence and independence with daily activities.