A list of traditional care and services available at any level of Home Care Packages:
YOU can ask for any care and services no matter what Level 1, 2, 3 or 4 you are on. Be aware that since 27 February 2017, YOU can ask for whatever YOU want - to pay for that walker/wheelchair, a ramp at the front door, to buy that needed air conditioner, new washing machine... If your current Provider does not have the capacity to do it themselves, they can broker it out. If they can't do it/or are reluctant to, YOU can have have a look around and Change your Provider (since 27 Feb 2017).
It's called Consumer Directed Care (CDC) - Your Life, Your Decision...
TO COMPARE $ PRICES in Home Care
Since 1 July 2019 home care providers need to publish their prices in a new standardised home care pricing Schedule on the My Aged Care website. This transition to the new pricing structure may be an opportune time to analyse their current pricing policies and determine if they (the Provider) need to change their prices.
The Schedule will provide information on the common services and costs under a home care package.
This will better support senior Australians to understand and compare home care pricing information, and make a more informed decision about which provider is best placed to deliver your care.
01 July 2019
WHAT TO DO...
STEP 1: https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/find-a-provider
STEP 2: Click on "Help at Home"
STEP 3: Select your Suburb
STEP 4: Click on "Home Support Services" to get a list of Providers
OR “Home Care Package” Level 1, 2, 3 or 4
You can then click on the Providers name for their details
OR Just click on COMPARE – up to 3 at a time
and COMPARE ONE PROVIDER $ AGAINST ANOTHER... Just scroll down.
You are looking at:-
Case Management - approximate number of hours per fortnight
Price for Common Services - shown as $ per hour
Other costs:
It's quite an Eye-opener!!!
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
https://www.australianageingagenda.com.au/2018/04/12/key-considerations-when-negotiating-cdc-package-spending/
The Department of Health says the types of care and services provided under a home care package will depend on the person’s assessed care needs.
A package should help older people to stay at home, provide tailored services and cover a person’s care and safety needs.
If a package is used to contribute towards the cost of items within a consumer’s home, the impact on a person’s individual budget, capacity to deliver other care and services and responsibility for any maintenance should be considered, the department says.
-------
Often you don’t know what you don’t know. What help can you ask for? You can decided that you would rather pay a private cleaner and get exactly what you want for how long you want. Many have rejected the packages because of the admin fees, the daily fee and so on...
https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/manage-your-home-care-package-services
1 July 2019
What Is A Home-Care Package?
Home-care packages are care and support services that are subsidised by the Federal Government, with the aim of keeping people living independently at home for as long as possible.
Services are provided by a variety of organisations across Australia. To find out what Home Care Package providers are near you, use our Find a provider tool.
How does it work?
You choose a service provider that is right for you. The government then pays your provider a subsidy to arrange a package of care services to meet your needs.
As everyone’s care needs are different, there are four levels of Home Care Packages with different funding amounts. These cover basic support needs through to high care needs.
The package level assigned to you is based on your needs.
Package level Level of care needs
Level 1 Basic care needs – $9,026.45 a year
Level 2 Low care needs – $15,877.50 a year
Level 3 Intermediate care needs – $34,550.90 a year
Level 4 High care needs – $52,377.50 a year
You work with your chosen provider to identify your care needs and decide how best to spend your package funding. Your service provider coordinates and can manage your services for you on your behalf.
New Aged care means assessment forms
The Department of Human Services (DHS) has released the new Aged Care Calculation of your cost of care (SA486) digital form. Your clients can fill it in online, print and sign it and send it to DHS with their supporting documents. The digital form uses dynamic questions tailored to the customers’ individual circumstances.
For clients who would prefer to use our simplified paper forms, they are as follows:
These forms are all available on the DHS website. Tips on how to download the digital form can be found here.
Aged care means tests: https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/aged-care-means-tests
We assess your financial details to work out how much you need to pay towards aged care.
Customers commencing a Home Care Package don’t need to fill in a form if they get a means tested income support payment from Centrelink or DVA.
Customers entering Residential Care don’t need to fill in a form if they:
It is important to make sure their income and assets are up to date when they enter into care to ensure their assessment can be completed automatically. They can do this by accessing their Centrelink online account or by calling Centrelink on 132 300or DVA on 1800 555 254.
Department of Health
13 August 2019
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Some Services Covered By Home-Care Packages May Surprise You!
Other home care services include:
04 February 2019
Home Care - a guide to your consumer rights
YOU have the same rights as when you buy goods or services under the Australian Consumer Law. The reforms are in response to mounting concerns raised by aged care consumers and families about the lack of transparency and comparability of home care pricing information, and the high administration prices being charged by some providers.
A detailed guide for consumers, families, carers and advocates on how consumer laws apply to home care arrangements.
13 July 2018
Increasing Choice in Home Care
16 February 2019
https://agedcare.health.gov.au/increasing-choice-in-home-care
Video recordings and slides of previous Increasing Choice in Home Care webinars are available for viewing.
scroll down a bit and you see links to some recent Webinars. Just click on 'Webcast page' and then click on 'Launch Webcast'. Easy! Watch at your leisure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jqj5Gj2sWE4
Published on Feb 26, 2017
Learn more about the Increasing Choices you have in Home Care and how to find out more about My Aged Care. Head to the website https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/
How do I understand this monthly statement? What if I want to do ... who do I ask and how do I go about this? This video aims to give older people just approved for a package a head start to think about what is possible, once they receive a Home Care Package.
https://homecaretoday.org.au/consumer-stories-and-articles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQtsUgeLVWI&feature=youtu.be
My Aged Care - Overview of Home Care Packages
This video provides an overview of how to access aged care services under a Home Care Package. The video guides you through:
• the initial screening and assessment process undertaken by the My Aged Care contact centre
• receiving the outcome of your assessment
• researching providers and working out costs
• being assigned a home care package
• entering into a home care agreement
• managing your services.
A thought... since your body is what Needs the Most Care, have a good look at getting your Provider/New Provider to look at, and concentrate on, having a Community Nursing Services come into your home, teach your Carer and YOU what you can do in various circumstances, and Most Importantly, have the Nurse/s always be 'On Call' should that Emergency arise. These usually happen in the middle of the night, or other 'out of hours' parts of the day. What you Need at this time, is someone who will pick up the phone 24/7 and answer your questions, reassure you, and talk you through what you need to do NOW. The reassurance and confidence this gives you cannot be measured. This alone is well worth having a Community Nurse as a vital part of your Care life.
What a Carer Actually DOES:
Carer self-assessment checklist:
As a carer, there are a number of things to consider to make sure both you and the person you care for remain as healthy as possible, both physically and emotionally.
By doing a carer needs assessment and self-assessing your own situation, you will better know what resources you may need to draw on in the future.
A good place to start for a self-assessment is to note down how many hours you spend each week helping, supervising or prompting the person you care for with, for example:
Knowing how much time you spend on these home care activities will also help you when you are assessed for Government carer support services.
for your information: A list of Traditional Care services...
Personal services Personal assistance, including individual attention, individual supervision and physical assistance, with:
Activities of daily living Personal assistance, including individual attention, individual supervision and physical assistance with:
Nutrition, hydration, meal preparation and diet includes:
Management of skin integrity includes:
Continence management includes:
Mobility and dexterity includes:
Support services includes:
Telehealth and digital technology
A home care package may also be used to support the use of:
Home maintenance Help with keeping your home and garden safe
Home modifications Changes to your home to improve safety and access e.g. ramps and rails
Goods, equipment and assistive technology Items to help you get around or adapt e.g. walking frame, shower chair
https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/help-at-home/home-care-packages
1 July 2019
Leisure, interests and activities includes:
Clinical care includes:
Access to other health and related services includes:
Strong competition would come from labour hire companies that currently supply staff to aged care, home care franchise groups and residential care providers not yet delivering community care. Under the changes, existing residential care providers will be able to 'opt in' to provide home care as part of a simplified process.
And of course, now that the Residential Care Home you have used for Respite care can now apply to be a Home Care provider in their own right, YOU can have a chat with them and ask, "Can you be my loved one's Home Care Provider?" It may be something they have not thought about before BUT, if you bring it up, they may take a serious look at entering into this expanding marketplace.
Are there any restrictions on what I can use my Home Care Package for?
The range of care and services a consumer may not use funds for includes: The following services or items are outside the scope of the Home Care Packages Program and must not be included in a package (at any of the four levels of home care)
17 December 2021
YOU can ask for any care and services no matter what Level 1, 2, 3 or 4 you are on. Be aware that since 27 February 2017, YOU can ask for whatever YOU want - to pay for that walker/wheelchair, a ramp at the front door, to buy that needed air conditioner, new washing machine... If your current Provider does not have the capacity to do it themselves, they can broker it out. If they can't do it/or are reluctant to, YOU can have have a look around and Change your Provider (since 27 Feb 2017).
It's called Consumer Directed Care (CDC) - Your Life, Your Decision...
TO COMPARE $ PRICES in Home Care
Since 1 July 2019 home care providers need to publish their prices in a new standardised home care pricing Schedule on the My Aged Care website. This transition to the new pricing structure may be an opportune time to analyse their current pricing policies and determine if they (the Provider) need to change their prices.
The Schedule will provide information on the common services and costs under a home care package.
This will better support senior Australians to understand and compare home care pricing information, and make a more informed decision about which provider is best placed to deliver your care.
01 July 2019
WHAT TO DO...
STEP 1: https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/find-a-provider
STEP 2: Click on "Help at Home"
STEP 3: Select your Suburb
STEP 4: Click on "Home Support Services" to get a list of Providers
OR “Home Care Package” Level 1, 2, 3 or 4
You can then click on the Providers name for their details
OR Just click on COMPARE – up to 3 at a time
and COMPARE ONE PROVIDER $ AGAINST ANOTHER... Just scroll down.
You are looking at:-
Case Management - approximate number of hours per fortnight
- Fully funded by Provider
- Self-managed by YOU
Price for Common Services - shown as $ per hour
- Personal Care
- Nursing
- Cleaning and Household tasks
- Light gardening
- In-home Respite
Other costs:
- Package management
- Staff travel costs to visit you
- Separate cost when you want to receive services from a different Provider
- Maximum Exit $ amount
It's quite an Eye-opener!!!
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
https://www.australianageingagenda.com.au/2018/04/12/key-considerations-when-negotiating-cdc-package-spending/
The Department of Health says the types of care and services provided under a home care package will depend on the person’s assessed care needs.
A package should help older people to stay at home, provide tailored services and cover a person’s care and safety needs.
If a package is used to contribute towards the cost of items within a consumer’s home, the impact on a person’s individual budget, capacity to deliver other care and services and responsibility for any maintenance should be considered, the department says.
-------
Often you don’t know what you don’t know. What help can you ask for? You can decided that you would rather pay a private cleaner and get exactly what you want for how long you want. Many have rejected the packages because of the admin fees, the daily fee and so on...
https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/manage-your-home-care-package-services
1 July 2019
What Is A Home-Care Package?
Home-care packages are care and support services that are subsidised by the Federal Government, with the aim of keeping people living independently at home for as long as possible.
Services are provided by a variety of organisations across Australia. To find out what Home Care Package providers are near you, use our Find a provider tool.
How does it work?
You choose a service provider that is right for you. The government then pays your provider a subsidy to arrange a package of care services to meet your needs.
As everyone’s care needs are different, there are four levels of Home Care Packages with different funding amounts. These cover basic support needs through to high care needs.
The package level assigned to you is based on your needs.
Package level Level of care needs
Level 1 Basic care needs – $9,026.45 a year
Level 2 Low care needs – $15,877.50 a year
Level 3 Intermediate care needs – $34,550.90 a year
Level 4 High care needs – $52,377.50 a year
You work with your chosen provider to identify your care needs and decide how best to spend your package funding. Your service provider coordinates and can manage your services for you on your behalf.
New Aged care means assessment forms
The Department of Human Services (DHS) has released the new Aged Care Calculation of your cost of care (SA486) digital form. Your clients can fill it in online, print and sign it and send it to DHS with their supporting documents. The digital form uses dynamic questions tailored to the customers’ individual circumstances.
For clients who would prefer to use our simplified paper forms, they are as follows:
- Home Care Package Calculation of your cost of care (SA456)
- Residential Aged Care Calculation of your cost of care (SA457)
- Residential Aged Care Property details for Centrelink and DVA customers (SA485)
These forms are all available on the DHS website. Tips on how to download the digital form can be found here.
Aged care means tests: https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/aged-care-means-tests
We assess your financial details to work out how much you need to pay towards aged care.
Customers commencing a Home Care Package don’t need to fill in a form if they get a means tested income support payment from Centrelink or DVA.
Customers entering Residential Care don’t need to fill in a form if they:
- get a means tested income support payment, and
- don’t own their own home.
It is important to make sure their income and assets are up to date when they enter into care to ensure their assessment can be completed automatically. They can do this by accessing their Centrelink online account or by calling Centrelink on 132 300or DVA on 1800 555 254.
Department of Health
13 August 2019
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Some Services Covered By Home-Care Packages May Surprise You!
- Pet support – with 38 per cent of Australian owning a dog and 29 per cent with a cat, many older people require help taking care of a pet. You can use some of your home care package to cover pet support.
- Companionship – loneliness is one of the most serious issues for older people, both in terms of their health and their quality of life. You can use your home care package simply for companionship at home.
- Social support – your home care provider can take you to visit social supportgroups or on fun outings to do things you like to do, such as going to a movie, or visiting friends.
- Taxis – home care can also be used for taxi vouchers to help you get around.
- Manicures – home care providers may be able to provide manicures, which can be especially helpful for those whose fine motor skills may be affected by medical conditions.
- Massages – massages can help to relieve stress. Lymphedema massage can help to reduce swelling in the legs. Your home care provider may be able to provide massages.
- Technology – home care packages can be used to purchase technology and to learn how to use it. Technology is an essential part of everyday life these days, whether it be to keep in touch with friends or family, or to set up reminders for when to take your medication.
- Creative activities – you can use some of your home care package on creative pursuits, such as dance, painting or music sessions – which can deliver great improvements to your mental wellbeing and allow you to continue following your passions.
Other home care services include:
- Help with showering, toileting, and dressing
- Help with mobility
- Help with communication
- Help to prepare meals, and assistance eating
- Help can be provided with continence management
- Aids such as crutches, walking frames, mechanical devices for lifting, pressure relieving mattresses and bed-rails can be provided, and you can receive help in learning how to use them
- Speech therapy
- Podiatry
- Occupational therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Hearing and vision services
- Help with shopping
- Help to visit the doctor or attend social activities
- Help managing skin integrity
- Medication management
- Help keeping your home clean and tidy
- Washing, sorting, folding and ironing laundry
04 February 2019
Home Care - a guide to your consumer rights
YOU have the same rights as when you buy goods or services under the Australian Consumer Law. The reforms are in response to mounting concerns raised by aged care consumers and families about the lack of transparency and comparability of home care pricing information, and the high administration prices being charged by some providers.
A detailed guide for consumers, families, carers and advocates on how consumer laws apply to home care arrangements.
13 July 2018
Increasing Choice in Home Care
16 February 2019
https://agedcare.health.gov.au/increasing-choice-in-home-care
Video recordings and slides of previous Increasing Choice in Home Care webinars are available for viewing.
scroll down a bit and you see links to some recent Webinars. Just click on 'Webcast page' and then click on 'Launch Webcast'. Easy! Watch at your leisure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jqj5Gj2sWE4
Published on Feb 26, 2017
Learn more about the Increasing Choices you have in Home Care and how to find out more about My Aged Care. Head to the website https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/
How do I understand this monthly statement? What if I want to do ... who do I ask and how do I go about this? This video aims to give older people just approved for a package a head start to think about what is possible, once they receive a Home Care Package.
https://homecaretoday.org.au/consumer-stories-and-articles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQtsUgeLVWI&feature=youtu.be
My Aged Care - Overview of Home Care Packages
This video provides an overview of how to access aged care services under a Home Care Package. The video guides you through:
• the initial screening and assessment process undertaken by the My Aged Care contact centre
• receiving the outcome of your assessment
• researching providers and working out costs
• being assigned a home care package
• entering into a home care agreement
• managing your services.
A thought... since your body is what Needs the Most Care, have a good look at getting your Provider/New Provider to look at, and concentrate on, having a Community Nursing Services come into your home, teach your Carer and YOU what you can do in various circumstances, and Most Importantly, have the Nurse/s always be 'On Call' should that Emergency arise. These usually happen in the middle of the night, or other 'out of hours' parts of the day. What you Need at this time, is someone who will pick up the phone 24/7 and answer your questions, reassure you, and talk you through what you need to do NOW. The reassurance and confidence this gives you cannot be measured. This alone is well worth having a Community Nurse as a vital part of your Care life.
What a Carer Actually DOES:
Carer self-assessment checklist:
As a carer, there are a number of things to consider to make sure both you and the person you care for remain as healthy as possible, both physically and emotionally.
By doing a carer needs assessment and self-assessing your own situation, you will better know what resources you may need to draw on in the future.
A good place to start for a self-assessment is to note down how many hours you spend each week helping, supervising or prompting the person you care for with, for example:
- mobility (moving around the house, turning someone during the night)
- personal hygiene (bathing, dressing, using the toilet)
- eating and drinking (making sure they eat and drink, preparing food)
- communication and social participation (organizing social activities, help with communicating their needs to you or others)
- health and treatment (giving medicine, therapeutic exercises)
- safety (checking water temperature, making sure someone does not injure themselves or others)
- behaviour (supervising and understanding why people act the way they do).
Knowing how much time you spend on these home care activities will also help you when you are assessed for Government carer support services.
for your information: A list of Traditional Care services...
Personal services Personal assistance, including individual attention, individual supervision and physical assistance, with:
- bathing, showering including providing shower chairs if necessary, personal hygiene and grooming, dressing and undressing, and using dressing aids
- toileting
- dressing and undressing
- mobility
- transfer (including in and out of bed)
Activities of daily living Personal assistance, including individual attention, individual supervision and physical assistance with:
- communication including assistance to address difficulties arising from impaired hearing, sight or speech, or lack of common language, assistance with the fitting of sensory communication aids, checking hearing aid batteries, cleaning spectacles and assistance in using the telephone
Nutrition, hydration, meal preparation and diet includes:
- assistance with preparing meals
- assistance with special diet for health, religious, cultural or other reasons
- assistance with using eating utensils and eating aids, and assistance with actual feeding if necessary
- providing enteral feeding formula and equipment
Management of skin integrity includes:
- providing bandages, dressings, and skin emollients
Continence management includes:
- assessment for and, if required, providing disposable pads, and absorbent aids, commode chairs, bedpans and urinals, catheter and urinary drainage appliances and enemas
- assistance in using continence aids and appliances and managing continence
Mobility and dexterity includes:
- providing crutches, quadruped walkers, walking frames, walking sticks and wheelchairs
- providing mechanical devices for lifting, bed rails, slide sheets, sheepskins, tri-pillows, and pressure relieving mattresses
- assistance in using the above aids
Support services includes:
- cleaning
- personal laundry services, including laundering of the consumer's clothing and bedding that can be machine-washed, and ironing
- arranging for dry-cleaning of the consumer's clothing and bedding that cannot be machine washed
- gardening
- medication management
- rehabilitative support, or helping to access rehabilitative support, to meet a professionally determined therapeutic need
- emotional support including ongoing support in adjusting to a lifestyle involving increased dependency and assistance for the consumer and carer if appropriate
- support for consumers with cognitive impairment, including individual therapy, activities and access to specific programs designed to prevent or manage a particular condition or behaviour, enhance quality of life and provide ongoing support
- providing 24-hour on-call access to emergency assistance including access to an emergency call system if the consumer is assessed as requiring it
- transport and personal assistance to help the consumer shop, visit health practitioners or attend social activities
- respite care
- home maintenance, reasonably required to maintain the home and garden in a condition of functional safety and provide an adequate level of security
- modifications to the home, such as easy access taps, shower hose or bath rails
- assisting the consumer, and the homeowner if the home owner is not the consumer, to access technical advice on major home modifications
- advising the consumer on areas of concern in their home that pose safety risks and ways to mitigate the risks
- arranging social activities and providing or coordinating transport to social functions, entertainment activities and other out-of-home activities and other out-of-home services
- assistance to access support services to maintain personal affairs
Telehealth and digital technology
A home care package may also be used to support the use of:
- telehealth: video conferencing and digital technology (including remote monitoring) to increase access to timely and appropriate care
- assistive technology: such as aids and equipment (particularly those that assist a person to perform daily living tasks), as well as devices that assist mobility, communication and personal safety
- aids and equipment: some aids and equipment that are directly associated with your care needs can be purchased using funds from your package budget.
- Services that keep me safe in my own home
Home maintenance Help with keeping your home and garden safe
Home modifications Changes to your home to improve safety and access e.g. ramps and rails
Goods, equipment and assistive technology Items to help you get around or adapt e.g. walking frame, shower chair
https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/help-at-home/home-care-packages
1 July 2019
Leisure, interests and activities includes:
- encouragement to take part in social and community activities that promote and protect the consumer's lifestyle, interests and wellbeing
Clinical care includes:
- nursing, allied health and therapy services such as speech therapy, podiatry, occupational or physiotherapy services
- other clinical services such as hearing and vision services
Access to other health and related services includes:
- referral to health practitioners or other service providers
Strong competition would come from labour hire companies that currently supply staff to aged care, home care franchise groups and residential care providers not yet delivering community care. Under the changes, existing residential care providers will be able to 'opt in' to provide home care as part of a simplified process.
And of course, now that the Residential Care Home you have used for Respite care can now apply to be a Home Care provider in their own right, YOU can have a chat with them and ask, "Can you be my loved one's Home Care Provider?" It may be something they have not thought about before BUT, if you bring it up, they may take a serious look at entering into this expanding marketplace.
Are there any restrictions on what I can use my Home Care Package for?
The range of care and services a consumer may not use funds for includes: The following services or items are outside the scope of the Home Care Packages Program and must not be included in a package (at any of the four levels of home care)
- items that would normally be purchased out of general income
- purchase of food, except as part of enteral feeding requirements (do note though, that should you meet the eligibility criteria in regard to assistance with nutrition e.g. you have specific dietary requirements or food intolerances and are seeking options to reduce potential risk)
- you may require heart friendly, gluten-free, dairy-free, low-salt or diabetes-friendly meals... Do raise it with your Provider
- payment for permanent accommodation, including assistance with home purchase, mortgage payments or rent
- payment of home care fees
- payment of fees or charges for other types of care funded or jointly funded by the Australian Government
- home modifications or capital items that are not related to your care needs
- travel and accommodation for holidays
- cost of entertainment activities, such as club memberships and tickets to sporting events
- gambling activities
- illegal activities
- payment for services and items covered by the Medicare Benefits Schedule or the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
17 December 2021