Home Care Packages help thousands of Australian seniors to live happily at home, rather than move into residential aged care.
Did you know that in addition to assisting with household chores, transport and social connections, a Home Care Package can fund impactful, life-changing supports to help you live your best life at home?
If the following inclusions are required as part of your Care Plan, a Home Care Package may fund:
1. Home visits from a Registered Nurse and/or Allied Services
Home Care Package funds can be allocated for a Registered Nurse to visit your home to help you with medication management and wound care. An RN can also provide regular medical attention to help manage chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes.
If you require allied health services as part of your Care Plan, and these services are not concurrently being funded by another government program, then your Home Care Package can fund visits from podiatrists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, remedial masseuses and other allied health practitioners.
2. Meal preparation and meal delivery services
Your home care service provider can go grocery shopping for you and help you with meal preparation in your home. This can include preparing food to suit special diets for health, religious, cultural, or other reasons.
You can also access home delivered, ready-made fresh or frozen meals with your Home Care Package. Your Home Care Package can fund the meal preparation and delivery component, while you cover the cost of ingredients.
Meals on Wheels is a well-known home delivery brand that caters specifically for seniors. It’s worth googling other meal delivery services in your area, or speaking with your Home Care Package Provider, to see what’s available locally.
3. Goods, equipment, and assistive technology
Goods, Equipment and Assistive Technology (GEAT) are items that can help you to cope with functional limitations and maintain your independence at home.
Examples that may be covered by your Home Care Package include shower chairs and dressing aids, specialised eating utensils, personal alarms, sensor mats, bed rails, mechanical devices for lifting and modified appliances.
You may also be able to access subsidised equipment to support mobility and dexterity, such as a pressure-relieving mattress or an electrical, adjustable, hospital-style bed.
4. Home modifications
Some home modifications can be funded by Home Care Packages to improve safety, accessibility, and independence.
Modifications that specifically address your ageing-related care needs can be covered or partially covered by your Home Care Package.
Examples include widening doorways for wheelchair access, removing shower hobs and installing an ambulant toilet.
5. Mobility aids
If they are specified in your individual Care Plan, mobility aids such as walking frames, wheelchairs, lift chairs and mobility scooters can be funded by your Home Care Package.
Items such as crutches, medical grade footwear, and slide sheets can also be covered, to help you move around more easily.
A Home Care Package can provide a large range of supportive services to help you or your loved one to live independently, safely, and comfortably at home.
The article below details what services and supports your Home Care Package can pay for:
What can my home care package funds be used for? (agedcaredecisions.com.au)
Aged Care Decisions can help you find a Home Care Package provider that suits you.
We are a FREE and independent service that helps tens of thousands of Australian families to find aged care providers that match their budget, location, personal preferences, and care needs.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Home Care Packages
What is a Home Care Package?
A Home Care Package provides a set amount of money for care services, determined by level of need, that is paid by the government to an approved provider of choice. The individual and the provider work together to decide how best to spend the money on a range of home care services, and to coordinate delivery of these services.
There are four levels of Home Care Packages, each with a different level of funding.
Here is more information about Home Care Packages and how they work:
What do I need to know about home care services? (agedcaredecisions.com.au)
Am I eligible for a Home Care Package?
Australians aged 65 years and older, or 50 years and older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, can apply for government-subsidised aged care services.
My Aged Care have an eligibility checker on their website, which lets you quickly check whether you meet the requirements for an aged care assessment before you apply.
Here is more information about eligibility for subsidised home care:
Who is eligible for a home care package? – Aged Care Decisions
How do I apply for a Home Care Package?
The first step you need to take to secure a government-subsidised Home Care Package is to complete and ACAT assessment. ACAT stands for Aged Care Assessment Team. ACAT assessments are coordinated by My Aged Care.
The article below outlines everything you need to know about ACAT assessments:
ACAT Assessment Guide – everything you need to know (agedcaredecisions.com.au)
What if I’m unhappy with my current Home Care Package provider?
If your current Home Care Package provider isn’t measuring up, then changing to a new provider is entirely possible – and it won’t cost you a cent.
Read the article below to find out how you can change Home Care Package providers – at zero cost – to ensure you or your loved one is receiving quality home care services.
Change home care providers at no cost – Aged Care Decisions
How can I find a good Home Care Package provider?
This article below goes into more detail about what home care is, how Home Care Packages work, and how you can choose a home care provider to suit your needs.
How to choose a home care provider – Aged Care Decisions
How Aged Care Decisions can help you.
Aged Care Decisions can help you find suitable aged care vacancies and providers at any stage of your aged care journey, and we can also provide valuable support and professional advice.
We are a FREE and independent service that matches aged care providers and vacancies with our clients’ unique needs – including location, budget, care needs and personal preferences.
Aged care providers pay us a set fee – which is the same for every provider – so we have no reason to recommend one provider over another. Our service is 100% independent, unbiased, and completely free for families.
Contact Aged Care Decisions now to receive a personalised aged care Options Report – with less stress, less hassle, and at zero cost to you.
