Support at Home will help more Australian seniors live at home for longer, rather than enter residential aged care. In this article we outline exactly what home care services Support at Home will pay for.
Support at Home categorises care services into three buckets.
Clinical care
The government will fund 100% of the cost of clinical care for all Support at Home recipients. Clinical care services include:
Nursing care
|
|
Allied health services
|
|
Continence support
|
|
Nutrition
|
|
Independence support
How much you need to contribute ‘out of pocket’ for independence support will depend on which services you receive, as well as your assets and income.
- A full pensioner will pay 5%
- A part pensioner will pay between 5%-50%
- A self-funded retiree will pay 50%
Independence support services include:
Personal care
|
|
Social support |
|
Therapeutic services that assist with independent living
|
|
Short-term respite care
|
Read more: How to get subsidised respite care
|
Transport
|
|
Everyday living
How much you need to contribute ‘out of pocket’ for everyday living support will depend on which services you receive, as well as your assets and income.
- A full pensioner will pay 17.5%
- A part pensioner will pay between 17.5-80%
- A self-funded retiree will pay 80%
Everyday living support includes:
Domestic assistance
|
|
Home maintenance and repairs
|
|
Meals and shopping
|
|
Assistive technology
If an assistive technology device, equipment or product can address an assessed need that you have documented in your care plan, you may be able to access funding for up to $15,000 in assistive technology without having to “save up” your budget.
Assistive technology can include:
- Mobility scooters, wheelchairs, and walking frames
- Shoehorns, zipper pullers, positioning pillows
- Braces, splints, anti-oedema stockings
- Non-slip bathmats, shower chairs
- Bedpans, commodes, and toilet paper grips
- Vehicle accessories
- Hoists, lifting devices, harnesses and slide sheets
- Modified eating and drinking utensils
- Mattress covers, bed rails, blanket supports
Assistive technology can also include digital tools, such as reminder apps or smart home devices, when they directly support care goals.
Home modifications
Support at Home can also fund home modifications to make your home safer and more accessible, if the modifications address a need documented in your care plan. You can access funds for home modifications without having to “save up” your budget.
Home modifications can include:
- Ramps and stair lifts
- Handrails
- Accessible toilets, showers, and wash basins
- Safety barriers, non-slip floor coverings
- Door openers and closers
- Modified lighting and remote controls
Restorative Care Pathway
This 16-week program can deliver around $6000 in extra home care services to help you recover from an injury or illness and maintain or regain your independence.
End-of-Life Pathway
This 12-week program will fund up to $25,000 in extra home care services for people who wish to remain in their own homes with their family as they near the end of their life.
This additional funding will assist people who are assessed as having 3 months or less to live, and services can be delivered by their usual provider.
Read more: Support at Home End-of-Life Pathway
Aged Care Decisions assists tens of thousands of Australian families to navigate home care and make the most of their entitlements.
Find out more about our 100% free home care support service.
What will Support at Home cost?
The government will fund 100% of your clinical care costs, and a percentage of the cost of everyday living supports and services that help you maintain your independence at home.
A lifetime cap of $130,000 means you will not pay more than $130,000 towards the cost of non-clinical services, whether you receive them in-home or in a residential aged care facility.
Read more: Understanding contributions and fees for the Support at Home program
How to apply
To be eligible for Support at Home you must be:
- aged 65 years or over (50 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)
- living at home (not in residential aged care)
- an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- assessed by My Aged Care as someone who needs home care services.
You can quickly check if you’re eligible using My Aged Care’s online eligibility checker.
You can organise an assessment by calling My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or apply online here: Apply for an aged care assessment | My Aged Care . A doctor or other health professional can also refer you to My Aged Care for an assessment.
How to find providers
Aged Care Decisions can help you find and compare home care providers, with less stress, less running around and at ZERO cost to you.
Here’s how our FREE service works:
We regularly share the most up-to-date home care news and information with our families. We can help you to understand exactly how home care is changing and how the changes will affect you.
Our home care support service is 100% free, independent and obligation free.
