When the time comes to be looking into care options for ageing loved ones, families are often most worried about how much it will all cost. Fortunately, help is at hand. Ageing Australians are supported in their aged care journey through My Aged Care – a Commonwealth government agency that helps to both find and access government funded aged care supports and services that can ensure a full and happy life for your loved one ageing in place. At Home Care Assistance, we are experts at guiding families through the My Aged Care processes and can continue to provide the help needed once funding is secured.
The first step is to establish eligibility for subsidised in Home Care
If your loved one is over the age of 65 they may be eligible for government funded support, and if they have also:
- Noticed a change in what they can do or remember
- Been diagnosed with a medical condition or reduced mobility
- Experienced a change in family care arrangements or
- Experienced a recent fall or hospital admission
A Two – Part Process
Confirming eligibility is a two-part process that looks to understand your loved ones needs and what in home care services could best help them. It starts with a simple eligibility check which you can do over the phone or online using the My Aged Care Assessment Eligibility Checker. Home Care Assistance can also come to your home and help you through this process. Using the eligibility checker, you can specify your loved ones’ age and select from a list of common support needs, which, once selected, will let you know if they are then eligible to move to the second part of the process – which is an assessment.
To organise an assessment, you will need to call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 and a staff member will ask you some questions to understand your care needs. The answers you provide will help determine which type of assessment is most appropriate, Home Care Assistance can help you clarify and articulate your needs to ensure they are well understood by My Aged Care. The assessment itself is completely free of charge even if it requires a face-to-face assessment in addition to the phone call.
Two Possible Funding Methods
There are two possible funding methods that the assessor will be looking to select from:
1. The Commonwealth Home Support Programme or
2. A tailored package of services known as a Home Care Package
The Commonwealth Home Support Programme is an entry-level home support program that helps older people to live independently in their homes and communities. It also provides respite services to give Carers a break. The program aims to: help people live as independently as possible, focus on working with them, rather than doing things for them.
A Home Care package is for those with more complex in home care needs that go beyond what the Commonwealth Home Support Programme can provide. A more comprehensive assessment is needed when considering a Home Care package, and there are 4 different levels of funding support available based on the complexity of care needed. The approval process for a Home Care package can take some time – even up to a year – but those with higher or more urgent needs are prioritised.
Post Assessment
After the assessment, the My Aged Care assessor will determine if your or your loved one is eligible for funded aged care services, and if so, what type of services. Depending on the type of assessment completed, you will find out the decision at different times. If assessed for the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, the eligibility decision is provided at your assessment. If assessed for a Home Care Package, a short-term care option, and/or subsidised aged care homes, the assessor will take some time to review the information and make a decision, after which, the decision will be sent by letter.
For many people, this process in and of itself can be daunting and confusing, but Home Care Assistance are experienced navigators in the Aged Care funding space. At Home Care Assistance we understand you have enough on your plate, so we can take the pressure off you and your family and walk you through each step of the process to get your, or your loved one the aged care services and support needed as quickly as possible. Simply call your local Home Care Assistance team who can come to your home and get the process underway.
