One of the services offered by Right at Home is we help older Australians and their families navigate the government system. We can help you and your family get the help and support you need. This is a free service from Right at Home.
For the vast majority of older Australians, the preference is to stay in their own home as long as possible. The use of home care services can extend the period a person can remain in their own home to the end of life. The Australian Government has recognised that people prefer to stay independently at home and have adapted the system to make this a realty.
Care services under the Home Care Package funding are delivered by businesses, like Right at Home, that are called Approved Providers. These Providers are obliged to agree to your wishes, as regards what services you want, when you want them and by whom. You are able to choose which provider you want to deliver your services and what services you want. The main message is that it is up to you to decide.
This is important as if you are unhappy with the services you are getting, or the number of hours of care, or the services are of poor quality, then you can make a change. You can notify the government through the myagedcare website that you are unhappy and you can choose a new provider.
For the vast majority of older Australians, the preference is to stay in their own home as long as possible. The use of home care services can extend the period a person can remain in their own home to the end of life.
Home Care Packages - Government Funding
Here are the steps to follow in applying for a government funded home care package:
Step 1: Establish for yourself or for your loved one that it is time to seek help. Don’t leave it too late, as if you do, you or your loved one could end up in hospital or a nursing home. It is way better to prevent a problem by getting services earlier than later.
Step 2: Make contact with the government through the myagedcare website to request an assessment of your needs. If you call Right at Home we can help you with this process.
Step 3: Someone from the government will call you to make an appointment to come to your home for an assessment. The assessment is performed by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT), who decide what level of services are required (what the government is prepared to pay for).
Step 4: Once the assessment is complete the government will tell you what level of care you have been approved for. There are 4 levels of funding depending on need. This ranges from +-$7,000 per annum to +-$48,000 per annum.
Step 5: Once an ACAT assessment has been completed you will need to complete an income assessment via Centrelink to determine eligibility. Only persons on the aged pension or with annual income levels below a fixed amount are eligible for government funded home care packages. Nobody will be denied services because they can’t afford it. If a person has independent means then the government will ask the person to make a contribution towards their care. Once again Right at Home can help you navigate this process.
Step 6: If you are eligible for a high level package like a 3 or 4 you may be put on a waiting list. You may have to wait as long as 6-months for an allocation. Once you have been given a package then you go onto the myagedcare website and notify them which provider you have chosen.
Step 7: You will need to sign a Home Care Agreement with the company you choose. This agreement spells out your rights and explains how the services are delivered. You can change provider whenever you want to. You are not locked in.
Step 8: Services commence. The provider you choose must keep an account of your money and show you exactly how it is being spent.
If you are unhappy with your provider, make a change!
If you need our help, call Right at Home and we can help you navigate the government funding process.
