Physiotherapy for Aged Care
Staying Strong, Mobile and Independent
iRehab’s aged care physiotherapists provide gentle, effective and personalised physiotherapy for older adults living at home, in retirement villages or in residential aged care. The goals are the ones that matter most: maintain mobility, manage pain, prevent falls and stay active in daily life.
- Our physio services
- Funding options
ESSA
accredited provider
Google rating 5.0 stars
(verified 2026-08-11)
Medicare care plans,
NDIS, WorkCover and DVA accepted
Registered NDIS Provider
4-3LLM-2259
Why Physiotherapy in Aged Care Is Not Optional
Physiotherapy is one of the most effective tools available for keeping older Australians mobile, and it is the largest allied health profession working in residential aged care.
- Physiotherapists make up the largest share of allied health workers in residential aged care in Australia.
- Around one in four Australians over 65 has at least one fall each year, and falls are the leading cause of hospitalised injury in this age group.
- Exercise of any type reduces the risk of falling by 23%.
That is why our aged care work centres on strength, balance and walking confidence: the three factors that decide whether someone keeps living the way they want to.
Falls in Australians Over 65
What an iRehab Aged Care Physiotherapist Works On
Mobility, balance and walking confidence
Gait retraining, balance drills and confidence-building for everyday walking.
Joint stiffness, muscle weakness and frailty
Gentle progressive work to reverse deconditioning.
Respiratory physiotherapy
Breathing and clearance techniques for COPD, pneumonia and related conditions.
Strength, flexibility and endurance
Programs paced to each client, seated through to standing.
Mobility aid advice
Walkers, frames and orthotics assessed and recommended properly.
Recovery after stroke or hospitalisation
Rebuilding function after illness, surgery or a hospital stay.
At Home, in the Village, in the Facility
Independent seniors at home
Physiotherapy for elderly clients living independently, delivered at home or in our clinics. Home Care Package physiotherapy and Support at Home funding accepted.
Retirement villages
Scheduled visits to village residents, coordinated with management.
Residential aged care
iRehab physiotherapists work within facility service agreements, alongside nursing and care staff, contributing to care planning.
Carers and family
Guidance for the people who help: safe transfer techniques, exercise support and realistic expectations.
Aged Care Exercise Physiology: The Other Half of the Plan
| Profession | Role in aged care |
|---|---|
| Physiotherapist | Pain, mobility, falls risk, post-op recovery, respiratory care |
| Exercise Physiologist | Structured strength and conditioning, chronic disease exercise |
Dementia, Parkinson's and Neurological Conditions
We work with seniors living with dementia, Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions, where the program must adapt to fluctuating days, communication needs and safety considerations. Sessions are unhurried, cues are simple, and exercises double as tasks the person actually does: standing from a chair, turning in the kitchen, walking to the letterbox.
How Aged Care Physiotherapy Is Funded
Support at Home (new)
The Australian Government's Support at Home program started on 1 November 2025, replacing Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care. Clinical care services, including physiotherapy, are fully government-funded with no participant contribution
Home Care Packages (L1 to 4) and CHSP
Existing Home Care Package clients continue under their arrangements during the transition, and Commonwealth Home Support Programme services continue with transition no earlier than 1 July 2027. Physiotherapy can be written into package budgets and CHSP referrals.
Medicare care plans
Up to 5 Medicare-subsidised allied health visits per calendar year under a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (the plans that replaced the EPC items from 1 July 2025; existing plans valid until 30 June 2027).
DVA (Veterans Affairs)
Veterans with a Gold Card, or White Card for accepted conditions, access physiotherapy and exercise physiology through GP referral; DVA pays the provider directly.
For Families, Carers and Care Coordinators
If you arrange care for someone else, iRehab makes referral simple. Send the referral through, and we handle the intake, the funding check and the first appointment. We collaborate with GPs, aged care providers and families, with flexible scheduling and minimal wait times, and every session is delivered with safety, respect and dignity.
The First Visit
- Gentle assessment. Current mobility, pain, medical history, and what independence means to the client.
- Family or staff input. With consent, we talk to the people who see the client every day.
- A realistic program. Frequency and setting agreed up front: home, village, facility or clinic.
- Reviews that report back. Progress updates to the GP, family or care coordinator.
What Should You Have Ready for the First Home Visit?
Nothing needs to be bought or set up in advance. These few things make the first visit more useful.
- A list of current medications. Including anything for blood pressure, blood thinning or pain. Medication is one of the largest modifiable fall risks, and the therapist needs to see the list.
- A sturdy chair without arms, or with arms if standing up unaided is difficult.
- The shoes and any walking aid used day to day. Bring the frame, stick or walker actually in use, not a newer one kept in a cupboard.
- Glasses and hearing aids, worn. Both affect balance testing, and testing someone without them gives a false picture.
- Any recent hospital discharge summary or specialist letter.
- A family member or carer, if the client would like one there. With consent, their observations are often the most accurate part of the history.
- A clear space about two metres square, and pets settled somewhere else for the session.
What Do the First Twelve Weeks Look Like?
An assessment, then a block of regular visits at a pace the client can sustain, then a review that measures against the baseline taken at the start.
Assessment & Setup
Assessment and a small starting program. For someone deconditioned after a hospital stay, the first exercises may be seated, and that is the correct starting point rather than a compromise.
Building Progress
The program progresses in small steps. This is where walking confidence and sit-to-stand strength usually begin to shift, and where family members tend to notice a change before the client does.
Consolidating Phase
The home program carries more of the load, and visits progress it and check technique.
Review & Maintenance
Re-assessment against the baseline, with an update to the GP, family or care coordinator. For many older clients the goal is holding function, so a maintenance visit is the plan rather than a discharge.
The Practitioners Who Visit
Sophia Wehbe
Managing Director & Accredited Exercise Physiologist | BAppSc (Sport & Exercise Science) | Accredited ESSAM
Sophia Wehbe
Managing Director & Accredited Exercise Physiologist | BAppSc (Sport & Exercise Science) | Accredited ESSAM
Jay Daniels
Exercise Physiologist
Jay Daniels
Exercise Physiologist
Micqut Ngaata
Exercise and Sport Scientist
Micqut Ngaata
Exercise and Sport Scientist
Lucas Carling
Assistant Therapist
Lucas Carling
Assistant Therapist
What Families and Care Coordinators Say About Working With Us
Related Aged Care and Rehabilitation Services
- Exercise Physiology
- Mobile rehab
- Care plan physiotherapy
- WorkCover, CTP and DVA
- NDIS
- Falls prevention
- Women's health physiotherapy
- Telehealth
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Aged Care Physio Questions
Under Support at Home, clinical care including physiotherapy is fully government-funded with no participant contribution. Existing Home Care Package clients use their package funding during transition, and CHSP services continue. Ask us or your My Aged Care assessor which pathway applies.
An aged care physiotherapist assesses mobility, strength, balance and pain, then treats and prescribes exercise to maintain function. In facilities, physiotherapists also contribute to care planning, prescribe equipment and help with safe handling.
Yes, through Chronic Condition Management Plans: up to 5 subsidised allied health visits per calendar year for chronic conditions. Pension status does not change eligibility; the GP plan does.
Yes. Programs are adapted for cognition and safety, focusing on functional movement, balance and routine, which supports independence and reduces fall risk.
Yes. iRehab works under facility service agreements and coordinates with facility staff.
Yes. Programs start at the client’s current level, including seated exercise, and progress gradually.
Book an Aged Care Physiotherapist in Sydney
Book online or call 02 9613 3751. If you are not sure whether you need a Physiotherapist, an Exercise Physiologist, or a mobile visit, the team will point you to the right starting point on the first call.
iRehab North Rocks: 328-336 N Rocks Rd, North Rocks NSW 2151
iRehab Five Dock: 451 Lyons Rd W, Five Dock NSW 2046
Phone: 02 9613 3751 · Email: admin@irehab.com.au
Have questions or need assistance? Reach out to us directly. Our team is here to help. Simply fill out the form below, and we’ll respond promptly to address your enquiries or concerns.
- Last updated: September 10, 2026