guide to home care packages · 2 this guide has been written to give you a greater understanding of...

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GUIDE TO HOME CARE PACKAGES

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This guide has been written to give you a greater understanding of

Home Care Packages including what they provide, how to become

eligible for a package and the process involved. It will also help you to

understand fees and how to get the most care from your Home Care

Package Provider.

This guide was created by iCompare Aged Care, the only comparison

website and independent Advisory Service to help you confidently

choose the right Home Care Provider for you, or your loved one, free

of charge. If you have any questions about this guide or Home Care

Packages please get in touch at [email protected].

What is a Home Care Package?

The Australian Government wants to support older Australians to stay in their homes

by paying for in home care services and anyone can apply for these funds. This is

good news for ageing Australians! It is widely recognised that people are happier,

healthier and more likely to thrive in their own environment.

The Home Care Package Programme allows eligible Australians to access funds to

assist them to remain living in their home whilst maintaining their health, wellbeing

and social connections. Home Care Packages can make a difference in improving the

quality of life of people needing support to live at home.

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What services can be purchased using a Home Care Package?

Care and Services supported by the HCP Programme may include:

Care services -‐ Personal care services, activities of daily living, nutrition, hydration,

meal preparation and diet, management of skin integrity, continence, mobility and

dexterity

Support services – Cleaning, personal laundry services, gardening, home

modifications, leisure interests and activities

Clinical services -‐ Nursing, allied health (podiatry, physiotherapy services; and other

clinical services such as hearing and vision services) and access to other health and

related services

What are the different Home Care Package Levels?

The Home Care Package Programme provides 4 levels of support and each individual

is assessed to determine what level of support they require. Each package level has

a different amount of funding (subsidy) that is paid to your provider by the

Australian Government to deliver your care and services. The higher the level, the

more funding the government pays on your behalf, allowing you to buy more

services. A Level 1 package has the lowest subsidy and a Level 4 package allows you

to buy the most services. A client who starts with a lower Home Care Package can be

reassessed and upgraded to a higher package level if their care needs change.

Below is an indication of the four package levels and what they may typically be used

for:

Level 1 supports people with basic care needs. People on a level 1 package mainly

use this for things they are struggling to do themselves, such as domestic assistance.

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Level 2 supports people with low-‐level care needs. Level 2 package recipients may

use this level of support for domestic assistance, shopping and social support,

possibly home podiatry or some gardening assistance.

Level 3 supports people with intermediate care needs. Recipients will have support

in personal care, some meal preparation and medication support. Other funds may

be spent on social support, transport, nursing, allied health, gardening and minor

home modifications like ramps and rails.

Level 4 supports people with high-‐level care needs. Recipients will have support in

personal care from five to seven times per week, once to twice daily. Other funds

may be spent on social support, transport, nursing, allied health, gardening and

minor home modifications.

The subsidy amounts for each Package level are as follows:

Level 1 -‐ $22.04 per day




Note: these figures are accurate as at February 2017.

Who is Eligible to Apply for a Home Care Package?

Anyone who feels that they need assistance to remain living in their home can apply

for a Home Care Package. Home Care Packages are meant for older people aged 65

years and above, but there is no minimum age requirement. There are no

citizenship or residency restrictions on Home Care Packages. However, Home Care

Packages are not meant for visitors to Australia or people who need only temporary

or short-‐term care.

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If you would like to apply for a Home Care Package you will first need to contact My

Aged Care by calling 1800 200 422 or www.myagedcare.com.au. A My Aged Care

consultant will then assist you through the assessment process. This process is

aimed at determining your eligibility and the package level you are approved for.

How does the assessment work?

In the first instance anyone interested in applying for a Home Care Package needs to

contact My Aged Care. The contact centre staff will register you on their system and

ask you a series of questions in order to understand your needs. They will ask you

questions about any support you are currently receiving, if you have any health

concerns, how you manage with everyday living tasks and activities around the

home and some questions relating to your safety in your home.

If your care needs indicate you may benefit from a Home Care Package, My Aged

Care will refer you to an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT, ACAS in Victoria) to

complete an in home assessment. This assessment will identify your care needs.

These assessments are free. It is important to know that your preferences will

always be considered, and you do not need to make any decisions about your future

during your assessment. You are welcome to have someone else—perhaps a friend,

family member or your carer—attend your assessment for extra support. All

information provided will be treated confidentially.

What happens after the assessment?

Following an in home assessment from a member of the ACAT team you may be

approved as eligible for either a level 1, 2, 3 or 4 Home Care Package. You will

receive a letter to let you know the outcome of your assessment, the level of care

you are eligible for and approved to receive, as well as an overview of that care.

Keep a copy of these documents to show that you are eligible to receive Australian

Government-‐subsidised aged care services. It will include your AC number and

“Referral Code”. If you don’t receive a letter explaining your assessment outcome,

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contact the ACAT and request a copy. Your ACAT approval does not expire unless

there is a specific time limitation placed on the approval. Unless your care needs

have changed significantly, you will not need another assessment to be eligible for a

Home Care Package. If your care needs change significantly while you are waiting for

a Home Care Package, you can request a new ACAT assessment by contacting My

Aged Care.

Waiting list and package approval

After you have been assessed as eligible for a Home Care Package, you will be placed

on a national waiting list. Your position on the wait list is determined by the date of

your assessment and the priority of your request which is determined by your ACAT

assessor. When you get to the top of the waiting list you will receive another letter

from My Aged Care advising that your status is approved. It is now that you need to

locate an Approved Provider to manage your Home Care Package and start receiving

services.

Are there fees payable?

There are two types of fees that you may have to pay – a basic daily fee and an

income tested fee.

Basic Daily Fee

If you take up a Home Care Package you can be asked to pay the basic daily fee

irrespective of your income. If you are unable to pay all or part of the basic daily fee,

you can discuss reducing this fee with your provider. Some providers require you

pay the full 17.5% of the pension and there are others who do not charge this fee.

The maximum basic daily fee is 17.5 per cent of the single person rate of the basic

Age Pension.

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This rate increases on 20 March and 20 September each year in line with changes to

the Age Pension. This applies to each person receiving a Home Care Package, even if

you are a part of a couple.

Income Tested Fee

Depending on your income, you may be asked to contribute more to the cost of your

care. This is known as the ‘income-‐tested fee’ and is in addition to the basic daily

fee. The Department of Human Services works out the maximum fees payable

based on an assessment of your financial information and notifies you and your

Home Care Package provider.

There are daily, annual and lifetime limits on the amount of income-‐tested care fee

you can be asked to pay. This fee is determined by the government making an

assessment of your income and Providers do not have any influence over the

amount being set. Your home is not included in the assessment of your income for

Home Care Package purposes.

Full pensioners cannot be asked to pay an income-‐tested care fee and you will not

be asked to pay an income-‐tested care fee if you have a yearly income below the

maximum income amount a person can have to be classified as a full pensioner. If

you are a part of a couple, fees payable will be determined by halving your combined

income, regardless of who earned the income.

Help calculating your fees

My Aged Care can provide you with an estimate of your likely Income Tested Fee.

Call the My Aged Care contact centre (1800 200 422) or go to

www.myagedcare.gov.au and use the Home Care Fee Estimator.

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Selecting an approved Provider to manage your package

To begin receiving care and services from your Home Care Package you must engage

an Approved Service Provider to help manage your package. A good place to start is

www.icompareagedcare.com.au to compare and receive independent advice on

which trusted Home Care Provider is the best fit for you or for your loved one.

Once you have chosen an Approved Provider to manage your package you will enter

into a Home Care Agreement with this provider. The Home Care Agreement is an

agreement between you and the Approved Provider that sets out how your package

will be provided to you. All Home Care Packages are required by law to have an

Agreement between the Provider and the consumer. You should not be rushed into

signing an agreement before having the opportunity to read it through and seek

legal advice (if you wish). If you are unable to sign a Home Care Agreement because

of any physical incapacity or mental impairment, another person representing you

may enter the Agreement on your behalf.

Developing your care plan

Once you have entered a Home Care Agreement with your chosen Provider, this

Provider will then work in partnership with you to develop a Care Plan and purchase

services that will assist you to remain at home using your individualised budget that

is based on your package level and contributions.

Your care plan should include:

• Your goals – what it is you would like to achieve through your package

• Your identified care needs

• The level of involvement and control you will have in managing and coordinating

your home care package

• the exact care and services to be provided to support your assessed care needs

and any identified goals

• who will provide those services

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• when the services are to be delivered, including the frequency of services and

days/times when regular services are expected to be provided

• case management arrangements, including how ongoing monitoring and

informal reviews will be managed

• the frequency of formal reassessments

• an individualised budget

• Security of tenure

• Leave provisions

Your Provider will already have some information about you from your ACAT/ACAS

assessment. This information will guide the discussion about your goals, preferences

and care needs. When talking about your needs with your Provider, you really need

to think about what your goals are and what is most important to you. You might

consider:

• What sorts of things might help to improve your day to day life?

• What do you enjoy doing most?

• What support do you need to stay safe?

• What makes your life enjoyable and meaningful?

• Where and when do you want that support?

• How much could you be asked to contribute to your care costs?

Identifying goals will help guide your choice of care and services to best support your

needs. A goal might be maintaining a healthy lifestyle, or achieving independence in

mobility. The goals will be also shaped by your own circumstances, including your

health and wellbeing, cultural and personal values, and the amount of support

available from family, friends and carers. Your Provider will need to take into

account any supports you already have in place, such as carers, family members,

local community and other services. The responsibilities of the home care

provider/care worker and you/your carer should be included in your Home Care

Agreement and care plan. A copy of your care plan must be given to you before, or

within 14 days of, your care and services starting. It is important to remember that

your care needs can change over time and that your care plan can be amended to

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meet those changing needs. Your provider cannot change your care plan without

your agreement.

Individualised budget

Your individualised budget will be developed when you design your care plan with

your Provider and should be amended whenever your care plan or costs change. An

individualised budget provides you with greater transparency so you are able to see

what funds are available in your package, and how those funds are being spent. All

care and services provided to you through a Home Care Package must be able to be

paid for within your package budget. If you want additional services you can speak to

your home care provider and arrange to pay for these separately. Your package

budget is made up of: The subsidy amount, the basic daily fee (if payable). The

income tested fee (if payable), plus any additional supplements e.g. Oxygen

Supplement.

Monthly statement

All Home Care Package recipients are required by law to receive regular monthly

statements that show how your budget is being spent. The statement will show you

the income and expenditure under the package, as well as any unspent funds. Any

unspent package funds must carry over from month to month, and from year to

year, for as long as you continue to receive care under the package.

Begin your services

Once you have a Home Care Agreement, a care plan and an individualised budget,

your care and services can begin. Your package starts on the day your Home Care

Agreement is signed, not from the day you receive care and services. You can

continue using your Home Care Package for as long as you need it. This is called

‘security of tenure’ and this should be included in the Home Care Agreement. This

means your package cannot be allocated to another person unless you notify your

provider in writing that you no longer wish to receive services in your Home Care

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Package. There are some situations in which you may need to consider leaving your

package, such as if you move to another location, or your care needs increase

beyond what the package funds can provide. You are free to leave your package at

any time.

Change in care needs

If your care needs change and you need different care and services, you can arrange

with your provider to review your care plan and budget. Your care plan and your

individualised budget cannot be changed without your agreement. If you were

assessed as having low-‐level care needs, but your needs have increased since then,

you can request a reassessment by your local ACAT/ACAS to determine if you are

eligible for high-‐level care. Consumers will need to be reassessed if they need to

move to a higher level package.

Taking leave from your package

You are able to take as much leave of any type from your Home Care Package as you

need or require, as long as you have advised your home care provider in writing of

the period of leave you are taking. You will also need to advise your home care

provider if there is any change to your leave. There is no time limit.

Make sure you check with your provider about what you (or your carer) need to do

in case of unplanned leave, such as an emergency admission to hospital. There

should also be information in your Home Care Agreement about leave. You should

also discuss what happens to your fees and Government subsidy while on leave with

your home care provider. You may need to pay your basic daily fee while in hospital

or on a holiday, but not if you are in transition care or residential respite care. If you

pay an income-‐tested care fee, you will need to continue to pay this to your provider

in all circumstances.

Changing Providers

Since 27th February 2017, Home Care Packages are allocated to you not your home

care provider. This means that if you wish to change providers, you can. A good

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place to start is www.icompareagedcare.com.au to compare and get independent

advice choosing a Home Care Provider.

Some people want to change providers through a move to a new location. If you

move out of your provider’s area, you will need to contact providers in your new

location for a package. You can ask your current provider to assist you with the

transition to a new provider should you move to a location that your existing

provider does not support. You will not need to be reassessed by an ACAT/ACAS

unless your care needs have changed significantly. But you will need to enter into a

new Home Care Agreement and develop a new care plan with your new provider.

Another reason to change Providers is because you are unsatisfied with the service

you are receiving from your current provider.

What happens to any funds you haven’t spent if you leave your home

care provider?

If you are moving providers the unspent funds will be transferred to your new

provider less any Exit fee which your current provider charges. The amount if any

will be included in your Home Care Package Agreement. If you are permanently

leaving Home Care Packages the unspent funds less any Exit fee will be refunded in

proportion to the funds contributed by the Government and yourself.

Making a Complaint

If you or your representative is unhappy with a service, it is important that you talk

with your home care provider first. It may be something that can be resolved easily

and your provider is in the best position to address your concerns. Should you have a

complaint, your provider will tell you about their internal complaints handling

process and how to make a complaint. You have the right to make a complaint

without it affecting your care and services.

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Additional Needs

Home care providers may be able to access further funding (supplements) to ensure

you receive the care you need. These include:

-‐ Dementia and Cognition Supplement

-‐ Veterans’ Supplement for veterans with service-‐related mental health

conditions accepted by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs

-‐ Oxygen Supplement for people with an ongoing medical need for oxygen

-‐ Enteral Feeding Supplement for people who need enteral feeding on an

ongoing basis

-‐ Viability Supplement for people living in rural and remote areas

If you are eligible, your home care provider will receive this extra funding to make

sure you receive the care you need. You do not need to apply for these supplements.

Your home care provider will apply on your behalf, and in most cases, the

supplement will be paid automatically to your home care provider. These will be

recorded in your monthly statement.

People with diverse needs

The aged care system is designed to meet the aged care needs of all Australians. It is

important that any specific needs and requirements are taken into account when

planning a Home Care Package.

The Aged Care Act 1997 provides for particular consideration of the needs of older

Australians who identify with or belong to one or more of the following groups:

people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

people from culturally or linguistically diverse backgrounds

people who live in a rural and remote area

people who are financially or socially disadvantaged

veterans

people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless

people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI)

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people who are care leavers

parents separated from their children by forced adoption or removal

Providers need to be respectful of your needs when delivering care and support.

They need to ensure that they treat people with dignity and support choices that

they make when choosing their care and services, such as wanting to meet with

LGBTI social groups or requiring translation services.

For assistance call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or go to www.myagedcare.gov.au.

Assistance with interpreting

To ensure that everyone can participate fully in the development of their care plan,

home care providers are able to access the Government funded Translating and

Interpreting Service (TIS National) to support them in the delivery of aged care

services to people from non-‐English speaking backgrounds.

TIS National provides on-‐site and phone interpreting services to Australian

Government subsidised aged care providers at no cost to you or your provider.

You and your provider can use TIS National when working in partnership to:

negotiate your Home Care Agreement

co-‐design your care plan

develop your individualised budget

discuss your monthly statement

If you need interpreting services, speak to your home care provider to arrange

someone from TIS National for you.

Interpreting services as part of your care plan

If you require an interpreter when you are receiving care and services as part of your

care plan, the costs will be charged to your Home Care Package budget.

These additional costs need to be made clear to you before you enter into your

Home Care Agreement.

Whatever is agreed to it must be affordable within your total package budget.

guide to home care packages · 2 this guide has been written to give you a greater understanding of...

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