Six home care trends in 2026  

2025 was a challenging year for home care providers in Australia and New Zealand. With the New Aged Care Act’s delayed rollout in Australia, organisations juggled day-to-day operations while adapting to a major regulatory overhaul. 

While compliance was the main focus, the rise of AI couldn’t be ignored. Many organisations began experimenting with AI, though time for full transformation was limited amid the preparation for Support at Home (SaH). 

Overall, 2025 saw providers laying the groundwork for a new era in aged care. In 2026, the focus is shifting to refining compliance systems and scaling AI-driven workflows. 

To get a sense of what’s happening in 2026, we spoke to AlayaCare’s CEO, Adrian Schauer, and Managing Director ANZ, Annette Hili. Their insights, along with sector trends, give us a glimpse into what 2026 is bringing for home care. 

1. Support at Home will keep redefining care  

“The Support at Home delay means many organisations are just starting to test their new systems,” says Annette. 

In 2026, organisations are focusing on updating their tech stacks and workflows to better achieve compliance and efficiency requirements created by the SaH changes. 

“Automation is going to be a big time saver for home care providers this year,” Annette continues. “We’re already seeing many incorporating these automations, but soon it won’t feel like it’s a choice. Automation will be the only way providers will be able to keep up with demand.” 

2. AI at the frontline of care  

Organisations will adopt AI at different speeds this year, but AI-driven workflows are set to become essential in care. “Tools that were once isolated experiments will start handling core administrative tasks,” says Adrian. 

“AI agents will manage documentation, detect risks, and route information automatically,” he adds. 

“Our global data shows leaders want AI to focus on scheduling, documentation, compliance checks, and risk alerts,” says Annette. “We’re seeing the same trends here, although due to the focus on Support at Home, many organisations are just beginning to embrace AI.” 

Using AI at point of care delivery will also empower caregivers with easier access to information, leading to a major shift in how they work. 

AI tools will provide real-time access to client histories, recent updates, and guidance, allowing caregivers to ask for information without switching between systems. 

“We’ll see AI reshape workflows, but the biggest impact will be at the point of care,” says Annette. “It’ll make caregivers’ work easier, leading to more accurate notes, more time with clients, and better efficiency.” 

For example, Layla, AlayaCare’s AI assistant, helps manage care notes. With multiple care partners involved, keeping up with updates can be a challenge. Layla summarises weeks of notes in seconds, so caregivers can quickly ask, “What are the key changes in this person’s progress notes over the past 30 days?” 

“This won’t replace human judgment,” says Adrian. “It will help caregivers act faster and with more confidence, leading to better care and improved job satisfaction.” 

3. Focus on efficiencies to reduce rate of hourly care 

Workforce shortages will remain a defining challenge in 2026, pushing providers to rethink how they use every hour of care.  

Each year, an estimated 65,000 workers leave the industry, and the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) suggests there will be an impending annual shortfall of 30,000 to 35,000 direct care workers by 2030.   

As a result, organisations are needing to consider how each hour of work is best spent so that every visit delivers maximum value for clients while minimising administrative burden and avoidable costs. 

“We can see the workforce shortage isn’t going away this year,” says Annette. “The providers who cope best will be the ones who design their operations around efficiency, making it easier for staff to do critical work while automating any administrative tasks they can. Providers will need to manage hourly rates to ensure they remain competitive in an environment of self-management and online care platforms.”  

This will mean greater use of scheduling optimisation, mobile tools that cut down on paperwork, and AI-supported workflows that support schedulers with more efficient rosters and give teams back time for direct care. 

4. Shared data is becoming the new standard 

Disconnected systems have long held the sector back, but with the introduction of SaH legislation, many organisations are prioritising interoperability. As SaH workflows are tested, new opportunities for automation will continue to emerge. 

“Data trapped in separate systems leads to confusion and inefficiency,” says Adrian. “This year, more organisations will focus on creating workflows that seamlessly share data, saving time and improving accuracy.” 

“This is where we’ve seen AlayaCare’s integrations with leading providers be really useful,” says Annette. “These integrations help organisations in our ecosystem build more efficient and effective workflows.” 

For example, suppliers can now easily and securely confirm visits using the Supplier Confirmation Portal developed by Redmap and AlayaCare. Users mark visits as complete using a single link, and everything updates automatically in AlayaCare Cloud. 

Shared systems such as these will continue to be integrated as workflows and integrations continue to improve in home care this year. 

5. Participants are continuing to look for person-centred care 

With the New Aged Care Act reinforcing rights-based care, organisations need to show not just that care is delivered, but that it is genuinely tailored to the individual.  

“Clients and families are more informed than ever,” says Annette. “They expect to see their choices reflected in the schedule, in the care plan, and in how teams communicate with them.”  

In 2026, providers are starting to use tools like AI and analytics to personalise care plans, surface relevant insights for staff, and close the loop with families. But critically, success will depend on how well those tools support truly person-centred conversations and decisions. 

6. Analytics will drive decisions  

Analytics will give leaders clearer, real-time insights into their organisations as AI adoption grows. This shift from relying on retrospective reports will make planning and advocacy more effective. 

“When leaders can show how things like care worker stability improve outcomes and reduce hospitalisations, they can make a stronger case for investment,” says Adrian. 

“What we’ll see is that data will not only confirm what leaders already know, but also reveal new trends that can be acted on early,” says Annette. 

AlayaCare’s Client Intelligence Suite helps prevent risks by spotting common issues early. It scans unstructured notes in real time, identifies at-risk clients, and flags them for review. This allows managers to spot trends and intervene before problems escalate. Alerts and trends appear on an intuitive dashboard, enabling quicker, more informed action. 

By turning data into proactive decisions, organisations can improve care outcomes while boosting efficiency. 

The future of home care is human, powered by intelligence 

The future of aged care will be defined not by technology, but by how well it supports people. AI will handle repetitive tasks, freeing caregivers to focus on what matters most: human connection. Shared data will improve decision-making, while better compliance systems will increase efficiency and stability. 

Clients and families will feel the difference through better coordination, faster communication, and more transparent care. The system will operate with greater clarity and predictability. 

At its heart, home care has always been about human connection. Technology should protect and enhance that bond. By embracing AI and other tools to remove friction and streamline tasks, we can create a better care experience for everyone.