How to access support at home

Receiving support at home isn’t a loss of independence – in fact, it can help you maintain your independence and stay in your home longer. But how do you get started? Whether it’s for yourself or a loved one, there are a few options for accessing support at home services that can fit your unique needs.

In this article, we’ll break down the steps and options for accessing support at home, so you can make the best decision for your situation.

What are your options for support at home?

When it comes to paying for support at home, you have four main options. These depend on your needs and eligibility:

• Government support through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP)
• Government support through a Home Care Package (HCP)
• Government support through Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC)
• Fee for service

We’re proud to be a registered service provider for all these options, so no matter what you choose, we’re here to help!

Who’s eligible for government support?

If you’re 65 or older (or 50 if you identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person), you may be eligible for government funded support. The first step is to contact My Aged Care, who can help with all government-funded aged care services.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to find out which government support is most appropriate for your situation.
2. When you call, you’ll need to do a quick registration over the phone. Be sure to have your Medicare card handy!

I’m eligible for government funding – what now?

After your phone screening with My Aged Care, they may arrange for an assessor from the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) to visit you at home. They can approve specific services (CHSP) or recommend a further comprehensive assessment for potential HCP approval based on your needs. If you have a preferred service provider, let the assessor know. They’ll send the referral if your chosen provider has capacity.

Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP)

This service is for ageing Australians needing a lower level of care or temporary assistance with daily tasks, such as housework, to continue living safely and independently at home. This service is not income tested. The cost of CHSP services is partly funded by the Government with clients paying a small out-of-pocket co-contribution.

Once you’ve been assessed, you can contact our friendly team on 1300 610 610 to start arranging services.

Home Care Package (HCP)

If you need more help with daily tasks or require a higher level of care, a Home Care Package (HCP) might be the right choice for you. It’s a more tailored, coordinated approach to home care, perfect if your needs are a bit more complex. Once your HCP is approved, it might take anywhere from 1 to 6 months to get the full funding in place, but don’t worry – while you wait you may still get some temporary support through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP).

There are four levels of care under the Home Care Packages, and a maximum subsidy available on each. You can check out the current subsidy rates for each on the My Aged Care website.

Important note: HCP funding is income tested. Depending on your annual household income, an income assessment may need to be completed with Services Australia to determine if you need to contribute out-of-pocket to your HCP budget, and if so, the amount required. If you receive a full age pension from Services Australia, the income assessment is not required.

Once you’ve been assessed, you give us a call on 1300 610 610, and we’ll help you get everything set up and arranged!

Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC)

If you’re recovering from surgery or just need a little extra support for a short period – maybe for up to eight weeks – Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) could be a great option. It’s all about helping you regain your strength and ability to manage daily tasks, and can even delay the need for long-term care and support services. Your Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) may give you approval to access this while you wait for your Home Care Package to be assigned.

The types of services provided through STRC will be guided by a clinician’s assessment, so that your individual medical needs are met. These needs will be different for everyone.

Once you’ve been assessed, you can contact our friendly team on 1300 610 610  or fill out our contact form to start arranging services.

I’m not eligible for government support or I’m waiting for my funding to start – can I still access services?  

If you want to start accessing home care services while you wait for your government funding to commence, you can consider privately funding services, often referred to as fee-for-service. You may also consider this option if your assessment found that you are ineligible for government support, or if you want additional services that are outside your government-funded package.

We are here to support you

Whether you want to go through government funding or privately, by calling us on 1300 610 610, we can support you through the process of applying for, and organising, home care services. We can assist you to register with My Aged Care for an Aged Care Assessment. This is the first step to receiving support at home.

Once you have been visited by the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT), our team will work with you to understand and arrange the services you need to help you maintain your independence at home.

You can contact us for a free, confidential, no-obligation discussion by calling 1300 610 610 or completing the below online form.