Accessing subsidised home-care services
Written by Luisa Capezio, Aged Care Navigator
This notion of having to wait several months to years to receive care is often preventing people from engaging with home care services, despite legitimately needing it.
To date, senior Australians placed on the national queue to access a Home Care Package can be waiting up to eighteen months for their service to be made available.
Fortunately, it does not have to be an all or nothing situation.
This guide aims to set you up to access entry-level subsidised care while waiting on the national queue to access a Home Care Package.
This simple guide covers how to:
- engage with the home care aged care system,
- understand what services are available under the government subsidised schemes to help you stay at home,
- the process of accessing these services and
- the associated costs.
Government subsidised home care schemes available in Australia
The federal government funds two home care schemes for senior Australians.
The first is called the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP), and the other is a Home Care Package (HCP).
The key differences between these two home care schemes are illustrated below:
Before you start, you must be in a position where you need extra supportive care to keep you independent and safe at home. You also need to comply with the eligibility criteria set by the Department of Human Services.
Eligibility:
- 65 or over (50 or over for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people), or
- 50 years or older (45 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and on a low income, homeless, or at risk of being homeless.
Eligibility is based on need, so if you’ve:
- noticed a change in what you can do or remember
- been diagnosed with a medical condition or reduced mobility
- experienced a change in family care arrangements
- experienced a recent fall or hospital admission.
Note: The aged care team are likely to identify upfront if someone is not in a position to access home care yet.
If you are unsure, discuss with your health professional
The outcome we are working towards is to access useful and relevant home care services via the Commonwealth Home Care Program.
It is important to note that even those eligible for a Home Care Package can access these services while waiting on the national queue.
STEP 1: Register with MyAgedCare & book a home care assessment
Receiving home care services starts with registering with MyAgedCare.
If you are not registered and you do not have an Aged Care ID, e.g., AC12345679, then you will need to register as the first step.
The registration process is relatively easy. It can be completed over the phone, or via your general practitioner/health care professional.
If you are able, I recommend registering with MyAgedCare over the phone because it is generally quicker and a relatively painless process.
It is not essential, although I highly recommend registering an alternative representative for those times you need help to communicate or make a decision on your behalf. This can be a family member, friend, carer, health professional (e.g., your GP), service provider or advocate.
A formalised legal representative is always the best option. Engage with a lawyer to develop a legal arrangement, such as an enduring power of attorney or guardianship. These documents are important just in case you are not in a position to decide on your health, finances, personal or legal affairs.
Once you have registered with myagedcare, ask for a home care assessment.
The myagedcare staff on the phone will ask you a series of questions. They aim to gain a top-level understanding of how critical your need is for home care services. They will generally ask questions relating to your health needs, what challenges you have in the home, your support network and services you have in the home to keep you independent and safe.
The process will take around ten minutes to complete.
STEP 2: Make a list of home-services you need
If it is not immediately obvious what home care services you need, then run through this quick exercise:
List:-
1. What daily activities in the home have you stopped doing?
2. What daily activities are you finding increasingly challenging and need help doing?
3. List any incidents, if any, when you have missed an appointment or social activity because nobody has been able to take you there.
4. What, if any, is making you feel unsafe living at home?
There are just over 60 services available under the Commonwealth Home Care Program.
Take a little time to familiarise yourself with the home care services available under the Commonwealth Home Care Program.
It may be that not all these services are available in the state or territory you live in. Having this list will, however, give you an excellent basis to start.
Select the services you think will help you.
STEP 3: The home care assessment
An hour is usually required for the assessors to undertake a thorough review. To assist with preparing for your home care visit entails having (Ref: myagedcare):
- your Medicare card and one other form of ID proof - such as DVA card, driver's license, healthcare card, or passport
- a copy of any referrals from your doctor
- a support person present – highly recommended This can be over the phone
- have any information you already have about aged care services that you may want to discuss (refer to the list of services above)
- have contact details for your GP or other health professionals
- consider if you need special assistance to communicate, such as a translator, Auslan interpreter, guide dog, etc.
- have information on any support you receive
STEP 4: What services you are eligible to receive
A few weeks may pass before you receive a letter from the department explaining what services you are eligible to receive.
Depending on the assessors' view of your home care needs, you may be eligible to receive services via the Commonwealth Home Support Program, Home Care Package or both.
Tip: If relevant, check with myagedcare that you are indeed on the national queue for a Home Care Package.
STEP 5: Selecting a suitable provider
Finding a provider can often be a tricky part of the process. My only tip is to exercise patience as it may take some time to identify a provider which is available.
Using the ‘find a provider’ search tool on the myagedcare website is the best approach.
If you are time-poor or do not have access to a computer, then consider engaging a third party, such as family, carer or an aged care navigator.
Listed below are a few questions to think about when selecting a home-care provider:
- Be clear about the costs from the outset
- Ask if they have the credentials to manage your needs?
- If relevant, ask for a preferred gender (e.g., in cases of personal care)
- To help with compatibility, say for example with social support, ask to meet the carer before signing any contracts
STEP 6: Understanding the cost of care
The costs for receiving service/s under the Commonwealth Home Support Program are generally straightforward to understand.
The government subsidises the majority of the costs. Payment is usually charged by the hour. There are no exit fees or management fees.
If you can’t afford a contribution, that doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on the help you need.
- Providers have policies to protect those least able to contribute. If you are experiencing financial difficulties, talk to your provider.
A Home Care Package cost differ and are based on an Income Tested Fee (More about this in another article).
Luisa Capezio, aged care navigator at Phillips Wealth Partners. At Phillips Wealth Partners Pty Ltd it is our job to help individuals and families navigate the aged care system to find the best solution for loved ones who need support to stay at home or are ready to take the next step into a retirement living arrangement or residential aged.
Craig Phillips, CEO and Principal at Phillips Wealth Partners, www.phillipswp.com.au
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Image: Adrianne Anderson