FAQ- Home Care Packages Program

The Home Care Packages Program is a government-funded initiative designed to support elderly individuals (over 65) who wish to continue living independently in their own homes for as long as possible. The program provides subsidies to cover a range of services and supports tailored to the individual's needs, such as personal care, nursing, allied health, assistance with household tasks, and transport services.

Each package is assigned a level (from 1 to 4), based on the individual's care needs, with higher levels providing more funding and support. Recipients of a Home Care Package have control and flexibility in choosing the service provider and specific services that best meet their needs.

To access the program, individuals need to undergo an assessment by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) to determine their eligibility and level of care required. Find out more about the Home Care Packages Program.

Eligibility for a Home Care Package is determined through an assessment process conducted by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). Assessment for eligibility is based on the following criteria:

1. Age: Typically, individuals need to be aged 65 years or older (or 50 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) to access the Home Care Packages Program. However, younger people with disabilities may also be eligible if they meet certain criteria.

2. Care Needs: Applicants must have care needs that can't be met through other types of support services, such as help from family or community organisations. The level of care needs will determine the level of Home Care Package they may be eligible for.

Once assessed as eligible, individuals are placed on a national priority list, and Home Care Packages are allocated based on priority and availability.

Use this Eligibility Checker from MyAgedCare.gov.au.

There are several ways to begin an application for assessment for a Home Care Package:

• Your GP can refer you directly to My Aged Care.

• If you have been in hospital, a hospital discharge planner can also refer you.

• A Just For U Care care consultant can assist you by explaining the application process, however you or your representative will need to contact My Aged Care directly.

• You can also contact My Aged Care directly on 1800 200 422 and ask for support (known as a self-referral).

My Aged Care is available Monday to Friday: 8am to 8pm and Saturdays: 10am to 2pm.

Alternatively, if you meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply for a Home Care Package assessment online.

The assessment is split into 3 stages:

Stage 1: Your situation. Answer questions about your current situation.

Stage 2: Provide your details. Provide personal information.

Stage 3: Arrange the assessment. Provide details about who the assessor should contact to arrange your assessment.

Follow this link to apply online via MyAgedCare.gov.au.

The following services offered by Just For U Care are covered by the Home Care Packages Program:

• Personal Care, including bathing, hygiene and grooming

• Communication Support, including assistance using the phone and hearing aids

• Meal and Food Preparation

• Skin Care such as changing bandages and applying dressings

• Assistance with impairments and continence

• Mobility and Transport Support including equipment to help you get around

• Cleaning, laundry, garden maintenance and domestic assistance to keep your home clean and safe

• Social Support both within your home and outside, to keep you connected to your community and for emergency situations

• Care Management, such as reviewing agreements and making sure services are suitable for your needs

View our full list of in-home care services.

The Home Care Packages Program (HCP) and the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) are both government-funded initiatives designed to support elderly individuals to live independently in their own homes for longer. There are however, some key differences between the two programs:

Home Care Packages Program

• Designed for individuals with more complex care needs requiring a more comprehensive range of services to support their independence at home.

• Eligibility is determined through an assessment by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT), which assesses the individual's care needs and allocates a package at the appropriate level.

• Home Care Package recipients receive a package of funding tailored to their assessed care needs. They have more choice and control over the services they receive and can choose their service provider.

Commonwealth Home Support Program

• Aimed at individuals with lower care needs who require minimal assistance to remain living independently.

• Individuals can access CHSP services without a formal assessment. They can contact service providers directly to access the services they need, although some providers may conduct an assessment to determine eligibility for specific services.

• CHSP services are provided through a range of community-based organisations and local service providers. The services are typically funded by the government and are aimed at providing basic support to help individuals remain independent.

The Home Care Packages Program and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) are both government-funded programs aimed at providing support to individuals, but they cater to different populations and have different focuses:

1. Target Population:

• Home Care Packages Program: Provides support for seniors aged 65 years and over (or 50 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) who require assistance to remain living independently in their own homes. It focuses on delivering support for activities of daily living, healthcare needs, and other services tailored to the individual's requirements as they age.

• NDIS: Provides support for individuals aged 9 to 65 with permanent and significant disabilities substantially impacting their daily living and functioning. It aims to provide funding and support to help participants achieve their goals related to independence, community participation, education, employment, and more.

2. Scope of Services:

• Home Care Packages Program: Offers services such as personal care, nursing, allied health, assistance with household tasks, and transport services. It's more focused on aged care needs and supports ageing in place.

• NDIS: Provides a broader range of supports and services tailored to the specific needs and goals of participants. This can include assistive technology, home modifications, therapy services, employment support, social participation activities, and more.

3. Assessment Process:

• Home Care Packages Program: Eligibility and the level of care needed are determined through an assessment by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT).

• NDIS: Requires individuals to undergo a comprehensive assessment of their disability-related support needs to determine eligibility for the scheme and the appropriate funding package.

Read more about the Home Care Packages Program and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

There are four different levels of Home Care Package:

• Level 1: Basic assistance: provides support for tasks such as cleaning, grooming, meals, shopping and transport. This usually includes one or two visits a week from an aged care support worker.

• Level 2: Low care needs: provides the same help as Level 1, but involves up to three or four visits a week from an aged care support worker.

• Level 3: Intermediate care: provides additional in-home support, most days of the week. This can include visits from a support worker, nurse, and allied health workers. This package may also cover some home modifications and equipment.

• Level 4: High-level care: provides high level or complex care needs, which can include daily visits. May also include considerable home modifications based on your assessed needs.

The usual turnaround from sign-up to commencement of services varies dependent on the needs and goals of the client. This framework is determined during our initial assessment with the client. Generally, there is a 2 week turnaround from signing up with Just For U Care to the actual commencement of services.

In addition, funds need to accrue to ensure the client's Home Care Package does not go into overspend.

Your HCP funds keep accruing if they are not all used. They are rolled over and accumulate so a client can 'save' for more expensive items such as a recliner chair, hi/lo bed and other approved equipment or services.

There is an option for a person to fund extra services privately if the Home Care Package does not cover the full needs of the client.

The HCP can manage the core services and the client will be invoiced separately for the additional services not covered by their package.

If the level of the HCP is not sufficient to meet the client’s needs, there may be an option to apply for a higher level HCP. This is dependent on whether the client requires nursing or personal care or have experienced a decline in their health.

If you wish to request additional in-home care services outside of your HCP covered services, please contact us.

To start, you will need to check the Home Care Package Agreement you have with your current HCP provider. Most providers request 14 days notice to switch providers. You will need to contact your current provider and “ give notice” of intent to transfer your HCP to another provider.

You will also need to contact My Aged Care to advise of the request to transfer your package to another service provider and to ask for a reactivation of the referral code. Please call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit the My Aged Care website.

You can also provide the referral code to Just For U Care so you can be placed on the Just For U Care waitlist in My Aged Care. Our team will be in contact with you to advise on the commencement of our in-home care services according to your needs.