Being assigned a Home Care Package can go a long way towards improving your quality of life, making things easier and allowing you to remain in your own home for longer. Home Care Packages are a coordinated and personalised system of care that provide support for older people to help them remain independently in their home for as long as possible. These packages of support services cover things such as personal care, cleaning, cooking, travel, medication management and shopping, and are subsidised by the Australian Government for eligible recipients.
Home Care Packages are allocated to people with significant need of support, and are assigned on a needs basis by My Aged Care. The four levels of Home Care Packages, as deemed by the Aged Care Assessment Team, for different care and support needs are:
- Level 1 for basic care needs – approximately 2 hours per week (average)
- Level 2 for low-level care needs – approximately 3-4 hours per week (average)
- Level 3 for intermediate care needs – approximately 7-9 hours per week (average)
- Level 4 for high-level care needs – approximately 10-13 hours per week (average)
The majority of costs are covered by the government, depending on your assessment for eligibility. Charges to clients can be as low as 0.5c per day up to $10.94 per day depending on care requirements. In most cases it will be the lower figure or no cost.
Common home care services include:
- Help with toileting, showering and dressing
- Help to prepare meals and manage medication
- Help with mobility, travel and communication
- Help to keep your home clean and tidy
- Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and podiatry
Other less common services might include:
- Social support and companionship
- Pet support
- Massages and manicures
- Technology support
- Taxi vouchers
- Creative activities
To discover if you’re eligible for a Home Care Package, you’ll need to be assessed by My Aged Care. Go to the My Aged Care website or call 1800 200 422 to arrange an in-person assessment carried out in your own home by an aged care assessment team. There is no cost for this assessment, and it will be used to determine your eligibility and which level package can best meet your needs.
The services will be provided to you by a home care provider (such as Finley Regional Care), who will visit your home on a regular basis to offer the services you have chosen to receive.
How you manage your package
Once you have been approved to receive a Home Care Package, you have two options when it comes to managing that package – do it yourself, or have your home care provider do it for you. Every person receiving a package must nominate a government-approved home care provider to oversee the package, even if you decide to manage it yourself. You can have as much or as little control over the management of your package as you want, and you are able to stay in complete control of all the decisions if you so desire. Your decisions will include:
- The choice of service provider
- The choice of the types of services you receive
- The choice of who delivers your home care services
- The choices of where your services are provided
- The choice of when your services are provided
You are able to tailor your services to best suit your lifestyle, schedule, needs and wants – and you can also control how your Home Care Package is delivered.
Letting your provider manage your package
Many people choose to let their nominated provider manage their package for them, to save the stress and hassle of doing it themselves. This is a great choice for those who are unable to carry out the administrative tasks of managing their package, such as negotiating your services and how much you pay, monitoring your budget and choosing workers to deliver those services. This comes at a cost however, as your provider will charge you for administrative fees and case management costs (which will come out of your allocated Government budget).
Benefits
- It’s much easier to have your package managed for you, and requires minimal effort on your part
- You still have control over many of the decisions about how your funds are spent and who provides them
Drawbacks
- You will need to pay for this service, leaving you less funds to spend on other services
- You have less control over the delivery of your package
- You will still need to have regular communication with your provider
Self-managing your package
Self-managing your package is a great option for seniors with the ability to look after all aspects of their care and who wish to maintain their independence. It involves a bit of extra work though, as you will have to look after all the management and administration of your package yourself.
Benefits
- You save money by carrying out package administration yourself
- You can put more of your home care budget towards the care and services you need
- You have more control, autonomy and independence
- You have options around how much of your package you want to manage, and what parts you want your provider to organise for you
Drawbacks
- It can be time-consuming, and you will need to be prepared and organised
- It requires a fair bit of paperwork, which can be onerous for people
- Self-managing may be beyond people with a cognitive disorder, such as dementia
- It can be stressful
Your choice
Your choice will come down to the amount of time you have available to manage your package, your capacity for doing so and whether this is something you want to do. Examine your current care requirements, health, and lifestyle to help you make an informed decision on the best way to manage your package. Remember though, that whatever option you decide on, you can always change it later if it doesn’t work for you.
How to find a provider
You can access providers in your area that provide the services you are looking for via the Aged Care Guide.
Contact Finley Regional Care for information on our home care services in regional NSW.
