Home care is a range of services and supports that can help you live independently and well in the comfort of your own home.
In Australia, home care is subsidised by the government’s Home Care Package program, which has four levels catering to differing needs and requirements.
Home Care Packages can include a wide range of services, ranging from monthly gardening to advanced care for complex health issues.
In addition to its Home Care Packages (HCP) program, the Government funds home care via the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) – for those requiring only short-term or basic support.
Home care helps you make adjustments to your environment or daily routines that often go a long way in enabling you to live more comfortably and independently at home.
The benefits of home care include:
- Avoiding or delaying the need for residential aged care
- Highly personalised care, tailored to your particular needs and requirements
- Flexibility, with services that can adapt to your changing needs over time
Many older people find that home care provides a new lease of life, helping them to feel healthier, more independent, and well connected to their community. You can learn more, here.
The government will heavily subsidise the bulk of home care costs provided you are eligible; however, if you can afford it, you’ll also be required to contribute.
This amount can vary depending on the level of support needed, your location, and your eligibility for government funding.
You can learn more about subsidy rates and how much you might be expected to pay towards your home care services, here.
You may also 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.
BaptistCare at home offers competitive rates for privately funded care, with tailor-made home care programs to suit your individual needs and budget. View our latest price guide, 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 - you can find our phone number at the bottom of this page.
For now, we’ve broken the 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.
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 needs and preferences, building a care plan that supports all aspects of your physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.