What to consider when accessing a Home Care Package

As we’re living longer and longer, more and more people are choosing to age in their own home. The expenses involved can be challenging for many people to manage, fortunately, the Australian Government provides a Home Care Package to older people who need assistance to keep living at home.

If you or a loved one is looking at in-home assistance, a Home Care Package can be appreciated but there are a few things to consider when accessing a Package.


What is a Home Care Package?

The Home Care Package program is a taxpayer funded subsidy that goes towards care, services and case management to meet the individual’s needs. The package is paid to an approved home care provider, like Better Caring which contributes to the total cost of the care service you receive. In most cases, you will be expected to pay a basic daily fee which will also go towards your care. There may also be an additional income tested fee, which will depend on your income.


There’s four levels of Home Care Packages:

Level 1: Supports people with basic care needs - $8000

Level 2: Supports people with low-level care needs - $14,500

Level 3: Supports people with intermediate care needs - $32,500

Level 4: Supports people with high level care needs - $49,500


  • Please note that these numbers are only estimates as the maximum government contribution increases each year.


Are you eligible?

To find out if you are eligible to access a Home Care Package, you must be assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team. This first requires a referral from My Aged Care. To get this referral call 1800 200 422 or go to www.myagedcare.gov.au. Once you get a referral someone from the Aged Care Assessment Team will visit your home and assess if you are eligible.


What services can you access?

Under a Home Care Package, you can access a range of services which include but are not limited to:

Personal services, which includes assistance with activities such as bathing, showering, dressing, toileting and mobility. Meal preparation and assistance with special diets, including shopping, feeding, nutrition and hydration. Nursing services such as, medication monitoring, continence support, transport, mobility, as well as physiotherapy and occupational therapy.


Setting up your Home Care Agreement

To have a Home Care Package, you must have a Home Care Agreement which includes a Support Plan and a Budget. The Home Care Agreement sets out exactly what care and services you will receive, how your budget is allocated and who will be providing the care services.

You can nominate who provides your care. The benefit of using a platform like Better Caring means you can choose an independent worker which will help to extend your funding, meaning you can get more hours and have more control over your Home Care Package.

You are able to choose an advocate for your Home Care Package. An advocate can be someone from your family, or a close friend. This person can participate in the entire process, helping you organise your Package.


Other Assistance Options

For those who have a hearing or speech impairment, you can use the National Relay Service to contact My Aged Care.

For more information on accessing a Home Care Package, you can download the Australian Government booklet that outlines 5 steps to accessing a Home Care Package.

2 comments

Hi Claire

Can you claify what the $$$ you quote refer to, please.

Is that the Gov subsidy per person,

is it the cost to the in home person,

or assistance to the value of from the care provider.

I may have missed the point, but I did re read a few times.

Cheers

Hi there,

 

Sorry, I can see how that's not quite clear now. But yes, those numbers are the taxpayer-funded subsidy which is paid to the approved home care provider.

 

You can read more on the government site here: https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/help-home/home-care-packages/about-home-care-packages

 

Thanks

Just been through this exercise for my mother, found out that the Care Service provider, who sets up the package and monitors it, charges up to 20% of the total funds available up front annually, then allocates sub-contracted or company supplied providers taking up to 50% of the fee charged as their provision/support fee. Mum's a level 2, which means that the service "arranger" takes $2900 (20%) plus up to $5750 (50% of the service fee, depending on the hours of service provided). This equates to up to $8650 (or 60%) of the total available - have been advised to wait at least until Mum is on a llevel 3 package. I'm in the wrong business.

How many hours do you get for the $8000 in level 1 ?

Based on your calculations Old grey, the Care Service Providers must be doing very well thank you.

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