Understanding Home Care Package Levels

For the thousands of Aussies looking for assistance to live independently at home for as long as possible a Home Care Package can cover the costs of accessing a range of support services that keep you comfortable, healthy and happy. The Australian government provides Home Care Packages areat different funding levels. The funding level that you receive will determine how much support you will be able to access through My Aged Care. For this reason, it's essential to understand the differences between the different home care package levels.

What is a Home Care Package?

Simply put, a Home Care Package provides federal government-funded services that help you to remain at home for as long as possible. They offer choice and flexibility in the way that the support is provided and a Home Care Package can be tailored to your individual needs.

Home Care Package Budget Levels

There are four different levels of Home Care government funding, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4. Level 1 is the lowest level of funding and Level 4 is the highest. They can be used for services ranging from basic care, day-to-day household tasks and personal care, to specialist services, allied health services such as:

• Personal Care: Support with daily routines, showering, and continence management to assist you in living independently.

• Domestic Assistance: Help maintain a clean and organised home, providing basic support with household tasks.

• Meal Preparation: Ensuring you have nutritious and healthy meals, with assistance in eating also available.

• Shopping and Transport: Help with grocery shopping and transportation to appointments, ensuring your daily tasks are managed.

• Social Support: Participation in hobbies, community activities, and social companionship, aiding your independence.

• Garden Maintenance: Keeping your garden safe and tidy.

• Equipment: Provision of essential care equipment such as walking frames and wheelchairs.

• Minor Home Modifications: Improvements like ramps for better accessibility, enhancing your ability to stay in your own home.

• Nursing Care: Nursing support including more complex nursing care and wound care needs.

• Allied health: Support such as physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy services.

When it comes to delivery, with a Home Care Package you choose an approved Home Care Package provider, such as Focus Home Care, to administer your package funds. They work collaboratively with you to deliver your services. The higher the level of home care package you are allocated, the more support services your home care package provider will be able to provide.

What level of Home Care Package am I eligible for?

To be eligible for a Home Care Package, you must, in broad terms, be an older person needing assistance to live independently at home. This may be because you're finding it more difficult to get around, you have some health issues or a dementia diagnosis. As a general rule, to be eligible you must be over 65, live in Australia and want to stay living in your home and require some support to live independently.

The level of home care package you will receive will be based upon the severity and complexity of your needs. The more support you require to remain living independently in your own home, the higher the Home Care Package level you will receive.

Home Care Package Fees for each level

To receive funding, you may also need to pay home care package fees. These include a basic daily fee and an income tested care fee. Everyone receiving a Home Care Package is required to pay the basic daily fee. The basic daily fee varies depending upon the package level you are on. In addition, depending upon your means, you may be required to pay an income-tested care fee based on an income assessment by Services Australia.

How do I access my Home Care Package Funding?

In order to receive Home Care Package funds, you will firstly need have an assessment that will determine what level of package you're eligible for. To get the ball rolling on this, you must contact the Aged Care website or phone 1800 200 422 to schedule a free assessment, which is then carried out by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT).

The Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT)

The Aged Care Assessment Team will visit your home at the scheduled time to assess your eligibility and the level of care you require. Following this, you will be advised of whether you have been approved. From here, you are placed on a waitlist until a package is assigned to you. This waitlist is called the National Queue. It can take some time to reached the top of the waitlist and for a package to become available for you.

We can help

Many people find this process of accessing Home Care Packages to be difficult and complex. In addition, many people feel as though they are allocated a home package level by My Aged Care that is too low to meet their needs.

That's why the team at Focus Care is here to help you at every step along the way. We can even arrange a referral on your behalf for an ACAT assessment if you would like. Contact us for assistance.

How to choose a provider for my Home Care Package management

Once you have received a letter from My Aged Care saying that a Home Care Package has become available and has been assigned to you, the final step is to choose a home care provider. Home care providers, like Focus Care, assist with managing your package funds and arrange the services that you or your loved one wants and needs. Quality home care providers such as Focus Care can help you manage your funds irrespective of whatever funding level you are on.

Focus Care is a trusted provider of in-home aged care services and creative therapies and has helped many older Australians maintain their independence by providing in-home care based on individual choices, needs and goals. As an approved provider of Home Care Packages, we are experts in navigating the aged care system and helping achieve superior outcomes and happiness in later life for our clients.

For more information on how we may be able to help you or a loved one with a Home Care Package don't hesitate to get in touch with the team at Focus Care.