Home Care Packages: Everything you need to know
Home Care Packages (HCP) are allocated in levels, from Level 1 - Level 4. A Home Package offers you greater control over your in-home support.
Download the brochure here: Adssi HCP Brochure
Each level has a budget assigned and together with a contribution from you. The HCP is used to support you to remain living safely and independently in your home and community.
How do I get a Home Care Package?
Access to a Home Care Package is through the Federal Government's MY AGED CARE. They will arrange for an in-home assessment by ACAT to determine the type and level of support you might need. They will determine the level (from 1 - 4) that is most suitable.
The ACAT assessment is free and you can refer yourself, or a carer or GP can do it on your behalf. To arrange an ACAT assessment, please contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or www.myagedcare.gov.au
What happens next?
The first step is called APPROVAL and you will receive a letter from MY AGED CARE advising you have been approved, and for what level. You are now on a waiting list - as funds become available from the government, people are ASSIGNED their package. This can take some time, so it's important to get in the system as soon as possible.
Once you receive a letter advising you have been ASSIGNED, you can then select a provider to help you manage your Home Care Package. Be aware of organisations offering bells and whistles including free equipment or free service - if it seems to good to be true, it probably is.
Why Choose Adssi In-home Support?
We have been supporting local people to stay living in their home and community since 1987. We are an approved provider and regular participate in mandatory audits to ensure we are supporting and servicing our clients well.
We are proudly locally based and employ local people to support you. Over the 30+ years we have had hundreds of local staff and volunteers support thousands of local people.
When you choose Adssi In-home Support for your Home Care Package, you know you're in safe hands, with an accredited organisation, certified case managers, qualified and police checked staff in-home staff.
You know when you call us that we are just around the corner, not in another city, state or even another country. And being local means we know where you want to go and how to get there!
How do I use a Home Care Package?
The difference between the home care levels is the amount of care and services that can be purchased i.e. each level has a budget assigned by MY AGED CARE.
For example, more care services can be purchased at Level 4. The Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) will determine the most suitable level for you.
You design your own package to suit your needs. A Home Care Package can assist with:
- dementia care
- in-home nursing
- personal care (showering and dressing);
- general household chores like cleaning and meal preparation;
- transport for shopping and medical appointments;
- social support (visiting a friend, movies, lunch, hobbies);
- personal safety, monitoring devices and other equipment;
- home modifications (e.g ramps, rails);
- allied health including podiatry, physio and occupational therapy in your home;
- gardens and lawns;
- wellbeing programs (gentle exercise at home or in a group), social outings (variety concerts, lunches etc), falls prevention programs, cooking and nutrition, men's group, technology programs and more.
You can also use a Home Care Package to pay for your regular care needs while you are away on holiday. And if you don’t use one or more of the services in your package for a period of time, because you are away or in hospital for example, you may be able to use or save some of the funds for other things.
There are some things you CANNOT use your home care package for.
This includes any item or adaption that would usually be paid for out of your general income. For example: Home improvements, home appliances or fixtures, domestic appliances.
A Home Care Package cannot be used to:
- pay your rent or mortgage
- buy your groceries or meals
- pay for holidays
- pay for home improvements
- buy home appliances or fixtures
- pay your Basic Daily Care fee (if applicable) or Income Tested Fee (if applicable)
Fees & Charges
Home Care Packages are provided at 4 different levels, and each is assigned a budget by the Federal Government.
The total package budget is made up of the following:
- The Government subsidy (dependent on the package level)
- The income tested fee (if applicable to you) is determined by Services Australia (Centrelink);
- The basic daily care fee (if applicable and can be negotiated with Adssi).
Basic daily fee
Providers can ask everyone taking up a Home Care Package to pay a contribution (called the Basic Daily Care fee), irrespective of the consumer’s income and whether or not they are a member of a couple.
The basic daily fee is determined by Services Australia (Centrelink); however, we may be able to negotiate this with you - please discuss this with your Case Manager. The fee is re-adjusted on 20 March and 20 September each year in line with changes to the age pension.
Your Case Manager will review this fee with you at each Care Plan Review.
You can find out more about the current basic daily fee rate in the Schedule of Residential and Home Care fees and charges at https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/home-care-package-costs-and-fees
Income-tested care fee
Depending on your income, the Government may ask you to contribute more to the cost of your care. This is called an income-tested care fee and is different for everyone because it is based on an individual’s income.
For some people, including those on a full pension, an income tested care fee does not apply.
It is determined by Services Australia (Centrelink), and reduces the amount of subsidy paid by the Government for your package to the Provider.
The income tested care fee (if applicable) is in addition to the basic daily fee.
The total of your Package is made up of the Government subsidy + the income tested fee (if applicable), plus the basic daily care fee.
The total of these pays for your services and equipment as per your care and service plan.
Please note that whether you pay any or all of the above fees (basic daily care fee or income tested care fee) depends on your personal financial circumstances and your service choices. This will be explained and outline in a budget your Case Manager will provide to you.
Care Management Fee
This fee is paid from your Home Care Package budget and will be itemised in your monthly statement. The Care Management fee includes things like:
- reviewing the home care agreement and care plan to make sure it fits in with your needs
- coordinating and scheduling your services
- ensuring the care aligns with other supports
- provide a point of contact for you/your support network
- ensuring care is culturally appropriate
- identifying and addressing risks to your safety
Package Management Fee
This fee is paid from your Home Care Package budget and will be itemised in your monthly statement. Package Management means the ongoing tasks we do to deliver and manage your Home Care Package. This includes:
- preparing monthly statements
- managing package funds including claiming your subsidy
- meeting compliance and quality assurance standards
Review and Exit Fees
Please note we do not charge an additional review fees over and above the Care Management fee. We do not charge exit fees when you no longer need your package or change providers.
Home Care Package Form
Make your enquiry today:
Would you like more helpful information about our Home Care Assistance Package?
For more Information, you can check our Adssi_HCP_Brochure_web or click on the boxes below:
Each level of a Home Care Package comes with a budget assigned.
Level 1 is the lowest up to Level 4 for people needing more significant amounts of support. You then use this budget to pay for the services and supports you need.
The Government also expects people who have the financial capacity to pay will be asked to pay a fee to contribute to the costs of their care. Your income will determine the income-tested care fee you may be asked to pay. This fee is assessed and determined by Services Australia, and not by the provider.
You can call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 for further information. Before you call you should have your financial information ready, especially details of your various forms of income. There are annual and lifetime caps in place to limit any income-tested care fees you may be asked to pay. You can apply for financial hardship assistance if you believe you will have financial difficulty contributing to the cost of your Home Care Assistance Package.
If you already have a Home Care Package and you would like to swap to Adssi to provide the support, simply call our HCP Team on 1300 578 478 for help to make the change.
You are free to choose your HCP provider and free to change your mind if your circumstances change.
Please note if you want to leave Adssi for another HCP provider, we do not charge an exit fee.
If your needs change and the type of service you receive needs to change, please contact MY AGED CARE on 1800 200 422.