Published date: 17 March 2025
As we age, our immune system naturally becomes weaker. It can make us more likely to get sick from diseases like COVID-19 and influenza (flu) and common infections.
COVID-19 and flu can lead to serious health complications, including longer time to recover, needing care in a hospital and even death. For those living in aged care homes, shared living arrangements also means infections can spread quicker.
If you’re not feeling well
- No matter how unwell you feel, even if it’s mild, you should tell your aged care or healthcare worker.
- You can be tested for symptoms of COVID-19 with a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) or polymerase chain reaction test (PCR). It's important to see your doctor if you have COVID-19, as older people are at greater risk of getting very unwell.
- You should wear a mask when a worker is at your home or in your room.
- You will be supported and cared for, even if you have COVID-19 or the flu.
Staying up to date with vaccinations
Vaccination is a safe and effective way to protect yourself, your family and others in the community from a respiratory infection.
Regular vaccination is the best way to reduce your risk of serious illness, hospitalisation or death from infectious respiratory diseases like COVID-19 and flu.
If it has been 6 months since a COVID-19 vaccination a further COVID-19 booster:
- is recommended for people aged 75 years or older
- can be taken by people aged 65 to 74 years, following discussion with your healthcare provider.
Flu vaccinations are recommended annually. The COVID-19 and flu vaccines are available free-of-charge for people aged 65 years and older and can be taken together.
Where to get your vaccinations
You can access vaccinations through your:
- GP or pharmacist
- community health centre or Aboriginal health service.
If you live in an aged care home, your provider is responsible for making vaccinations available.
Find a clinic and book your vaccination.
COVID-19 oral antiviral treatments are available to people aged 70 years and over. You need to start this treatment within 5 days of symptoms starting or testing positive for COVID-19.
Early assessment is essential. Talk to your GP or nurse practitioner to find out whether the antiviral treatments are right for you before testing positive to COVID-19.
Keeping in touch with family and friends
Seeing your family, friends, carers and loved ones is important for your mental, social, physical and emotional wellbeing.
The Industry Code for Visiting Residential Aged Care Homes means aged care residents can have visitors while minimising the risk of spreading infection.
Whether you have visitors at your aged care home or in your home, you should ask visitors to:
- only visit when well
- wash their hands before entering your home or room
- practise good hand hygiene.
If you or your visitors are unwell, you can also use phone and video calls to stay in touch with your community.
There are also supports and things you can do to help your mental health.
What to do if you have concerns
Talk to your GP, pharmacist, nurse practitioner, contact Healthdirect or call 1800 022 222, if you want to talk to someone about COVID-19 and flu impacts
If you have concerns about your aged care service, please raise them with your provider first.
If you can’t resolve your concern, you can:
- call the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission on 1800 951 822
- get support from a free Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) advocate on 1800 700 600
- find someone to help you through the National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP) or the call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500.
If you need an interpreter, call the Translation and Interpreting Service on 131 450.
Stay informed
For the latest advice on aged care services subscribe to the Department of Health and Aged Care’s EngAged newsletter.
You can also contact your local state and territory health departments for information about your local health system arrangements.
Last updated date: 17 March 2025
