What You Need to Know About Home Care

A lot of people ask, what is a Home Care Package and how do I get one? Greengate have broken it down for those who wish to stay in their home but are in need of a little extra assistance. Some examples of care you may be eligible to receive at home include: domestic assistance, meal preparation, personal care, transport, laundry, shopping, home maintenance or nursing assistance.

The Australian Government subsidises the cost of home care for seniors over the age of 65. In order to access this home care, you will need to contact My Aged Care and ask for an assessment. They will then decide whether they send out an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) or Regional Assessment Service (RAS) to assess your needs and determine which of the following types of care you are eligible for:

Home Care Package

Home Care Packages are given to people with complex care needs and will be indicated by ACAT. These packages come in four different care levels (known as Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4) which determine how many hours of assistance you are eligible for per week. With a Home Care Package you can decide what types of care services you want.

You will be charged a basic fee which is set at 17.5% of the standard age pension - these packages are also income tested by the Department of Human Services, so you may also be a charged an income tested fee. There can be long waitlists to receive a Level 2, 3 or 4 package, so sometimes it might be more appropriate to consider Residential Aged Care in a Greengate Village.

Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)

The Commonwealth Home Support Programme is for people with low care needs who require entry level care at home. This will be indicated by RAS, and your assessment will state the types of care services you can receive. Service providers receive block funding from the government, and then provide subsidised services to those on the Commonwealth Home Support Programme.

Unlike the Home Care Packages above, you are not limited to the number of hours you can receive. Also, the Commonwealth Home Support Programme isn’t income tested, so your income doesn’t work against you. Instead, you will pay a small hourly fee for the services you receive. For example, you will usually pay around $10-$15 per hour for domestic services, which is much cheaper than hiring a private cleaner.

Greengate want you to maintain your independence for as long as possible. That is why you can bring your existing Home Care services with you when you move into any of Greengate's retirement apartments. Alternatively, every Greengate Village has a range of optional care services available to each of their retirement residents to help make life easier in your home.