In the Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR) Taree's Anglican Care Home Care received 12 places and new service, Mayo Home Nursing in Taree also received 12 places.

Also in the home care places allocations Port Macquarie based services EACH Service and Feros Care will distribute their services in the Manning and Hastings areas. EACH Service received 12 places and Feros Care received 14, to be spread across both areas.

The Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR) is a competitive application process that enables prospective and existing approved providers of aged care to apply for a range of new Australian government funded aged care places.

"Receiving these places is quite significant as the ACAR application process is very competitive," said Anglican Care's marketing manager Kylie Jacques.

"This means that will we will be able to grow our services and effectively increase the number of seniors within the community that we are able to assist."

Federal member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie announced the funding at Anglican Care, Taree.

"I am delighted Anglican Care will receive a further 12 federally-funded home care places. Anglican Care has an excellent track record in delivering home care and currently provides services to more than 40 residents in the Manning," Dr Gillespie said.

"These additional places I am announcing will also support veterans and people with dementia."

Last week, Dr Gillespie announced funding for a $20 million Anglican Care aged care and retirement living complex for Gloucester, with 30 additional residential care places.

In Forster, Dr Gillespie announced 144 new Federally-funded residential aged care places for the new $40 million development, "Pacific Cape".

NORMA Rixon lives her life with independence.

At 83-years-old the Old Bar resident still lives at home and even wears dresses she made herself.

"I was a a dress maker," explained Norma. "I made this dress 40 years ago, and I was able to re-do the zipper myself."

Living at home Norma enjoys the comfort of being in her own space, using her sewing machine and having the relatives coming to visit in a familiar place.

Norma is aided by the assistance of home care services, made possible by the home care place allocations in the Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR).

"They help with gardening, making my bed, shopping and anything I need."

Anglican Care Taree manager Helen Bartley says this type of arrangement allows people to stay in their homes for longer.

She says these arrangements are flexible in terms of budget, with the services provided to suit the person.

"They also like to find out things they used to do and want to do again, like walking to the letterbox," said Helen. "We work out the steps to take to get them where they want to be."

For some, living in a smaller home, is better suited to their needs.

When John Nichols lost his wife, his house at Glenthorne became too large to maintain on his own.

The 86-year-old moved into a unit at Anglican Care Taree around three years ago and has found it to be a more comfortable living situation. He to, benefits from the home care place allocations funding.