Whether you are finding it hard to do some of the things you used to around the home or you are a carer looking after a loved one and need some extra support, home care can help. But how do you assess your options and get the home care help that you need?
It’s never too early to find out if you’re eligible for extra help around the home. The Home Care Program is available to those aged 65+ and there are four funding levels from Level 1 for low care needs up to Level 4 for high care. Each funding level receives a specific amount of funding (from around $8000 for Level 1 up to almost $50,000 for Level 4). This funding can be used to assess a range of home care services to assist people to remain living at home with the right support.
First step to accessing home care
Contact My Aged Care and register. If required they will organise an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) assessment through My Aged Care. Envigor can help you with organising this process.
When you contact My Aged Care you will need to provide:
- General information about you
- Information on living arrangements
- Details on medical issues
What to expect from the ACAT assessment:
This in-home assessment will ask you further questions about:
- Needs around the home
- Medical issues
- Social, emotional and cognitive needs you may have
Family and friends can be present to offer support and input. Around two weeks after your assessment, you should receive a letter advising if you are eligible for a package and, if so, what level.
What services are covered under home care?
A wide range of services are available to suit each person’s individual needs. A quality home care provider will work with you to help you get the most value out of your package.
- Domestic assistance including cleaning
- Shopping
- Transport
- Gardening
- Allied health support, including physio, podiatry and occupational therapy
- Social support
- Nursing care
- Personal care
What to look for when choosing a home care provider:
The choice is yours when it comes to picking a home care provider. Things to look out for include:
- Check out the costs, including service costs, admin, case management, travel and exit fees
- How flexible they are in terms of service times and routines
- Continuity of carer
- Minimum visit lengths
- Who is the point of contact and the preferred form of communication
- Availability – just office hours or 24/7?
Read more tips for choosing a home care provider.