How to choose a home care provider in 7 easy steps

This is like an ‘entry-level’ into home care, aimed at people who only need minimal or temporary support with just a few basic services. It also has shorter waiting times for funding, so is often used as an intermediary service while people wait for their Home Care Package funding to come through. You can learn more about the CHSP below

A Home Care Package is essentially a sum of money that’s allocated to you as an ongoing annual budget, and which goes towards care and services that help you live well at home. The amount you receive will depend on which level of Home Care Package you have. 

The Home Care Packages program offers four different levels of care, depending on your needs. The first level is aimed at lower-level care, and level four accommodates more complex care requirements. 
 

Unlike the CHSP, which offers a number of individual services – sometimes all delivered by different providers - the HCPs provide a coordinated approach to care, preferably delivered by one organisation via a multidisciplinary team.

You may choose to privately fund the services you need, either because you’re not eligible for government subsidy, or as a temporary measure while you wait for your funding to come through.

You can choose your own provider for privately funded services, and there are many reputable organisations to choose from, including BaptistCare at home.

BaptistCare provides tailor-made home care programs to suit your individual needs and budget, at competitive rates.

This is usually an all-inclusive charge that covers your personal care facilitator – someone who works with you choose your services, create a tailored care plan, and monitor and coordinate your ongoing services. 

This covers the organisation’s administration costs of providing your accredited Home Care Package, including package fund management, service compliance, and quality assurance activities. 

Home care providers cannot charge you an exit fee if you wish to leave their service, and you can leave at any time. Bear in mind though that most providers request a minimum notice period, usually a few weeks. Be sure to double check this when you sign up. 

There are many reasons people might choose to exit a Home Care Package including: 

• Moving to a new area or into residential aged care
• No longer needing or wanting home care
• They have passed away
• The services they need are unavailable

You can request itemised costs for individual services and ask if minimum charges apply. These might include:

• Nursing
• Allied health services such as occupational therapy or physiotherapy
• Dementia care consultancy
• Overnight care services

Some providers may charge for travel to and from your location, so it’s essential to clarify these rates when considering which provider you’ll go with. 

This means they have been assessed and meet the necessary standards of care. This information is usually available on the organisation’s website.

This means they have been assessed and meet the necessary standards of care. This information is usually available on the organisation’s website.

Don’t hesitate to ask the provider for their credentials, including employee qualifications and references from current or past clients.

Don’t hesitate to ask the provider for their credentials, including employee qualifications and references from current or past clients.

This can help you understand if there’s a low-risk way to test their services.

Get a sense of their unique qualities, such as their commitment to client care, use of technology, or approach to care coordination.

Providers like BaptistCare focus on personalised training and upholding high standards of care.

A dedicated contact can streamline communications and ensure continuity in your care.

Regular reviews ensure that care remains responsive to your changing needs over time. 

Matching carers with clients based on compatibility and care needs can enhance the experience. 

Ask about staff certifications, continuous training, and whether they hold relevant qualifications for specialised care.

The inclusions and exclusions for your particular Home Care Package will depend on your unique Care Plan, a document that is individually designed in partnership with your care provider, and regularly updated if your needs change. 

In summary though, Home Care Package funding can be used towards any age-related service or product that will directly help you continue living safely in your home. There are, of course, some exclusions, and you can learn about these in our useful blog,Home Care inclusions and exclusions – what to expect from your funding package.

The demand for government subsidised Home Care Packages in Australia is high and wait times can be anywhere from three to twelve months, depending on your care needs and level of priority.

While you are waiting for your subsidy to come through, you can still access in-home care services in one of the following ways:

• The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP)
• Pay privately for home care

The Home Care Package program (HCP) and Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) are the two main avenues of government-funded home care services for seniors in Australia, and they are designed to meet different care needs. 

1. The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) is like an ‘entry-level’ into home care, aimed at people who only need minimal or temporary support with just a few basic services.
2. The Home Care Packages program (HCP) is more involved and has four different levels of care depending on your needs and requirements.

Both options have the same aim: to help you continue living independently in your own home for as long as possible. Learn more, here.

Applying for home care funding can initially seem overwhelming. However, there is lots of support available should you need it – our team at BaptistCare is always happy to provide guidance and you can find our phone number at the bottom of this page. 

For now, we’ve broken the funding application process down into three easy steps:

1. Check your eligibility for government funding 

   The first step is to find out whether you are eligible for government-funded home care services. 

   You can do this by contacting My Aged Care, the government gateway for all Australian aged care services. Check your eligibility via their handy online eligibility checker, or by calling My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. 

    

2. Arrange an in-person assessment 

   If you are deemed eligible, you will need to arrange an in-person assessment. 

   My Aged Care will guide you through the booking process for this. Depending on demand, the wait time for assessments is usually between two and six weeks.

    

3. Contact your chosen provider 

   Following your in-person assessment with a member of the Government’s Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) (or the Regional Assessment Service if you are applying for the Commonwealth Home Support Program) your assessor will be able to write you a referral for a local home care provider, or you can choose your own. 

   If you are choosing your own provider, you will be given a referral code, which gives you 56 days to choose your own operator. Once you have contacted them, they can start arranging services for you. You can learn about the process in more detail, here.

With BaptistCare at home, it’s our extensive range of care services delivered to people in their own homes, that truly sets us apart from other providers. 

Delivered by multidisciplinary, highly experienced care teams, our services range from a little extra help around the house and support with everyday tasks, right through to specialised dementia services and high-level palliative care. 

Our services are strongly person-centred, which means we work with you to understand your unique needs and preferences, building a care plan that supports all aspects of your physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.