Aged care & in home care
As you get older, there are different care options to support you if you need them. This includes help with domestic tasks such as shopping and cleaning, personal care and hygiene assistance such as bathing, nurse visits to your home and care in a residential aged care facility.
The Australian Government My Aged Care website provides a lot of information on the types of support that is available, how to organise an aged care assessment to determine the level of care you are eligible for and searching for a provider.
Are you eligible for help?
The first step in determining your eligibility for subsidised home support services, a Commonwealth Home Support Programme or a Home Care Package is to arrange an assessment.
You have to meet certain requirements to be eligible for an assessment. This includes needing help with certain activities such as personal care, housework, moving around and taking medication. You must also be aged 65 years and older or 50 years or older if you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. You may be eligible in certain circumstances if you are younger than these ages.
You can check your eligibility online on the My Aged Care website or call them on 1800 200 422.
If you are eligible, the next step is to arrange a face to face assessment. You can apply for this aged care assessment online or by calling 1800 200 422. You can apply for a reassessment at any time if your needs change, or talk to your service provider if you are receiving care.
You can also use non-government funded services, however, they are not regulated by the government and you will have to pay the full costs without any subsidisation.
Aged care assessments
There are two different types of aged care assessments that you can apply for, depending on your needs, which will be determined as part of your aged care assessment application.
1. Home support assessment with a Regional Assessment Service (RAS)
This assessment is for those who need a low-level of care or support while they are still living at home. This is provided under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).
2. Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT)
If you need a higher level of care, this type of assessment may be recommended which is more comprehensive and may involve Home Care Packages, short-term or respite care or aged care homes. You will receive a letter shortly after your assessment to let you know what you are eligible for.
There is a large demand for Home Care Packages and you may have to wait 3-12 months from the date of your letter until a package becomes available. The current wait time for level 1 packages is 3-6 months and the current wait time for levels 2-4 is 9-12 months. In the meantime, you can agree to an interim package which is a lower level than what you are approved for or through the CHSP, but it will allow you to receive some level of care sooner while you wait for a HCP to become available.
Choosing a provider
My Aged Care can help you find a provider or you can do this yourself, as long as they can provide the services you need. You can search for a provider on the My Aged Care website while you wait until your aged care assessment outcome is completed. The results of this search will also tell you how each service is meeting the requirements of the Aged Care Quality Standards by showing a rating out of 4 for quality and safety.
In your My Aged Care online account you will have referral codes that you can pass onto providers after your assessment has been approved. You can also receive an online account if you are representing someone else.
You can also search for non-government approved providers, however, you will have to pay full fees.
Aged care costs
The cost of aged care services depends on what you are approved for, the provider fees and your financial situation.
Commonwealth Home Support Programmes are often charged at an hourly rate. The government subsidies are not means tested and the amount you pay depends on your provider and the services you receive. You may be eligible for additional support for CHSP, HCP and aged care homes from the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Home Care Packages and Aged Care Homes
If you choose a government approved provider, your fees may be subsidised. The fee estimator on the My Aged Care website provides an estimate of the fees you will be charged for Home Care Packages and aged care homes. You can also see what providers charge on the Find a Provider page.
The fees you will be charged for aged care homes include:
a basic daily fee (maximum of $53.56 per day)
a means tested care fee including a subsidy by the government if you are eligible (maximum of $259.26 per day)
accommodation costs
additional service fees and extra service fees.
You can use your age pension to contribute to aged care services or there is also financial hardship assistance available if you cannot afford to pay.