Can I manage my own Home Care Package?

A content elderly couple smiles warmly, overlaid with symbolic graphics representing home and family.

Can I manage my own Home Care Package? You now have the option to take greater control by self-managing your Home Care Package. 

As the demand for choice and control in-home care services continues to grow, you now have the option to take greater control of your care by self-managing your Home Care Package (HCP). This approach to managing your Home Care Package allows you to choose your support services and free up your Home Care Package budget. What’s more, self-management usually means lower provider costs, saving you more of your HCP budget for care and services.

Understanding Home Care Packages

Home Care Packages are government-subsidised programs designed to provide tailored support services to older Australians who wish to continue living independently at home. These packages offer a range of services, including personal care, nursing, allied health, and domestic assistance, based on individual needs and preferences.

The option to self-manage

Traditionally, Home Care Packages were managed by approved care providers, limiting individuals’ control over the types of services and their scheduling. However, the introduction of Consumer-Directed Care (CDC) now gives recipients the option to self-manage their Home Care Package funds.

Benefits of self-management:

Choice and control

Opting to self-manage your Home Care Package provides the autonomy to choose specific services that align with your unique needs. Whether it’s personal care, gardening assistance, or allied health services, you have the flexibility to allocate funds where they matter most.

Flexibility in service delivery

Self-management affords the flexibility to schedule services at times convenient for you. This adaptability ensures that your care plan is not only comprehensive but also aligns seamlessly with your lifestyle and personal preferences.

Direct engagement with care workers and support services

Taking charge of your Home Care Package enables direct communication with your care workers and support services. This fosters a more personal and collaborative approach to care, allowing for better coordination and ensuring services align with your specific goals and expectations.

Learn how to find care workers and service providers.

Financial transparency

Self-management ensures a clear understanding of your budget and how funds are allocated. This financial transparency empowers you to make informed decisions about your care plan and budget, ensuring you maximise the value of your Home Care Package.

In addition, Trilogy Care provider fees are charges at the low rate of 15% of your Home Care Package budget, with no daily management fees or exit fees. Spending less on your provider fees means more money in your budget for care and services.

Learn more about Trilogy Care’s transparent pricing here on our pricing page.

Empowerment and independence

Active participation in your care decisions promotes a sense of empowerment and independence. This newfound control positively impacts your well-being, fostering a greater sense of self-worth and confidence as you age in place.

Self-managing your Home Care Package is an option for those seeking a personalised and flexible approach to in-home care. The ability to choose services, control their scheduling, and directly engage with service providers allows you to enjoy a higher level of independence and an enhanced quality of life within the familiar confines of your home.

If you are eligible for a Home Care Package, consider exploring the option of self-management to tailor your care plan to your unique needs and preferences, ensuring a more fulfilling and empowered care experience.

Go to our Resources page to understand more about self-managing your Home Care Package.

Finding care workers or support services

Joyful elderly lady laughing with a younger woman, abstract heart shapes in the foreground.

Finding care workers or support services when self-managing your Home Care Package can be easy if you know how!

One of the benefits of self-managing your Home Care Package is having the flexibility to choose your care or support service providers.

There are many ways to find support services in your area and, depending on where you live, there could be many people in your area looking for new clients.

How to source support services

  • Workers are already working with you
  • Recommended by a friend, family member or health worker
  • Local service providers
  • Online support service platforms or carer marketplaces

Local support services can be found through

  • Local directory boards
  • Community support groups
  • Local newspapers
  • Google search
  • Social media groups

Online support service platforms or carer marketplaces include websites such as:

Engaging in community forums, such as online community groups, can provide insights into preferred service providers in your area.

Another critical aspect to consider is the compatibility between the carer and the client. This goes beyond professional qualifications and includes factors such as personality, interests, and communication style. A good match can significantly enhance the quality of care and the overall experience for both parties. Some online platforms offer matching services based on these criteria, so it’s worth investigating these options.

Finally, always ensure that the service providers you are considering have a transparent pricing structure. Understanding the costs involved upfront can help you manage your Home Care Package funds more effectively and avoid any unexpected expenses. Regularly reviewing and assessing your care needs and the effectiveness of your chosen providers is also important to ensure you are getting the best value and care possible

If you need help understanding what to look for when finding care worker or support service, you can read our article on factors to consider when choosing a carer or service provider.

It’s important to note that service providers will need correct qualifications and complete Trilogy Care compliance checks to be paid under your Home Care Package funds. You can read more about service provider qualification requirements on our carer qualifications page.

By taking these additional factors into account, you can make a more informed decision when choosing care or service providers for your Home Care Package, ensuring a more satisfying and effective care experience.

Factors to consider when choosing a care worker or support service

care worker or support service

Having access to reliable and consistent care workers and support services can make self-managing your Home Care Package a more secure and reassuring process than navigating a Home Care Package with an unreliable traditional provider. This article will help you understand they key factors to consider for when choosing for new care workers or support services to help you identify a carer that will suit your ongoing needs.

Consider your needs:
Firstly, it’s best to identify the type of support you’re looking for, any health conditions you have that may impact the type of support you need and your availability. Whether you need domestic help or nursing support, understanding your needs before reaching out to new service providers will help you to explain your needs and determine whether a service provider aligns with your requirements.

Finding care workers and support services:
Once you’ve identified your needs, you can start looking for suitable care workers and support services. There are many places to look for a new support services including:

  • Recommendations from friends, family or neighbours,
  • Online directories such as Careseekers or HireUp
  • Local organisations like seniors’ groups, your local community centre or medical centre
  • Your local newspaper, or
  • Google search

Interview and visit:
Contact the service providers you're interested in and schedule interviews or visits. This will help you assess their suitability, ask questions, and get a feel for their approach and environment.

Compare costs:
Inquire about the costs associated with the care services. Compare prices and consider your budget.

Check references and online reviews:
Ask for references from the care providers and contact them to learn about their experiences. Online and Google reviews can also help you understand how other clients rate their services.

Trust your instincts:
Trust your gut feeling about a provider. Personal rapport and trust are crucial in care relationships.

Consider compatibility:
Evaluate if the provider's schedule, location, and approach align with your needs and preferences.

Carer credentials and qualifications:
Trilogy Care provides a compliance service for all new care providers and support workers. We background check any staff you would like to work with to ensure they have a current ABN, insurance and other requirements relevant to the work they will perform.

Review contracts and agreements:
Carefully review any contracts or service agreements before making a final decision. The Trilogy Care compliance team and your Trilogy Care care partner can also assist with reviewing any care agreements.

Remember that finding the right care provider may take some time and effort, but it's essential to ensure the well-being of yourself or your loved ones. Take your time to research and make an informed choice.

Would you like to know more about how to self-manage your Home Care Package? You can read more on our website or complete the below form and a member of our team will reach out to you.

Support to live well at home

If you, or someone you care about, needs extra support to live safely at home, a Home Care Package could help get life back on track. 

What is a Home Care Package?

Home Care Packages (HCP) are the federal government’s way of funding services for older people who have complex care needs, but who still want to live independently. They’re designed to be flexible and to provide support across a range of areas, including:

  • personal care
  • meal preparation
  • cleaning and
    gardening
  • wound management
  • continence care
  • transport
  • taking part in social activities

Home Care Packages can also include nursing, podiatry and allied health services.

Am I eligible for a Home Care Package?

To qualify, you must be 65 or older (50 years or older for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples) and need help with everyday tasks. Eligibility is assessed by My Aged Care, and is based on your health and wellbeing, mobility, independence and personal support networks.

What's the process?

ACAT

The Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) will confirm your eligibility with an in-person assessment. This will also determine the level of care required – from level 1 for basic care needs to level 4 for high care needs.

You can register for an ACAT assessment through My Aged Care.

Means testing

As part of the process, you’ll be subject to a means assessment to establish how much (if anything) you’ll need to contribute to your own care.

National queue

Once approved for your package, you’ll be placed in the national queue, which operates based on assessed priority and date of approval. This process can take up to 12 months.

Connect with our friendly team

Time to design your care plan and choose your providers. Complete the below form or call Trilogy Care on 1800 263 396 to discover how we can help.

Would you like to know more about how to self-manage your home care package? You can read more on our website.

Home Care Package providers - making the right choice for you

Home Care Package providers - making the right choice for you

Home Care Packages are designed to help you maintain your independence and lifestyle in your own home.

Whether you’re researching your options or you’ve been approved for a Home Care Package, there are so many options and decisions, how do you know you’re making the right choice for you?

The first step is to select an approved Home Care Package provider to help you manage your plan and budget.

While Home Care Provider options may seem vast, there are two basic ways to manage your plan:

  1. Traditional providers
  2. Self-managed care

Traditional Home Care Package providers

Traditional service providers deliver fully managed home care, putting them in charge of every aspect of your care – from finances through to scheduling services and choosing the people who deliver them.

While a hands-off approach might sound appealing, it means you can’t necessarily control which members of their team are rostered to be in your home  or the price they charge for their services.

Fully managed home care also comes at a price. Traditional providers typically charge a monthly fee, daily fees and an inflated hourly rate for the delivery of services or support– a rate which includes hefty ‘middle-man’ fees on top of the direct service charge. This can have a significant impact on your budget.

Self-managed Home Care Package providers

Self-managed care is a new care model that allows the consumer to take control of the care services they need and the care providers they use. 

Unlike traditional providers, self management empowers the consumer to spend less on management fees, freeing up their Home Care Package budget for better long-term care and services.

Fees for a self-managed service are usually charged at a flat percentage rate, with no daily management fees or exit fees. And, because you can choose your own support providers, you know the service rate you’ll be charged.

The Trilogy Care difference

Trilogy Care is a registered Home Care Package provider. We offer two levels of self-managed home care – Self Managed and Self Managed PLUS. 

The Self-Management option allows you to take full control over your Home Care Package. The Self-Management Plus option is for those who need some care coordination support. 

All Trilogy Care clients have a dedicated care manager who is directly contactable by phone to  work with you to find the perfect support providers to suit your personality, lifestyle and needs, with control resting fully in your hands. And all charged under our fixed fee structure – no setup fee, no daily fee, no exit fee.

Would you like to know more about how to self-manage your Home Care Package? You can read more on our website. 

Inclusions and exclusions - Use of Home Care Packages funds

Clients often ask us what services and items they can and can not use or purchase from their Home Care Package.

At Trilogy Care, we partner with you to determine if the service, support, or purchase is directly linked to your identified care needs and goals (as per your ACAT assessment). Appropriate purchases may support daily living and are essential to keeping you safe at home, for longer. All purchases must be considered an acceptable use of government funds while fitting within your budget. All of things which Trilogy Care assists you with.

General Expenses

These are items that would usually be paid for with general household income, such as household bills and other basic living expenses.

Examples of items that are not covered:

  • White goods
  • Appliances
  • Car expenses
  • Waste removal
  • Gift vouchers
  • Medical expenses, funeral costs
  • Heaters
  • Air conditioner
  • Social clubs memberships
  • Ongoing internet or phone costs
  • Haircuts and manicures
  • Storage
  • Supplements and vitamins.

Home Modifications and Capital items

Any home modification made, must be clinically justified and reasonable. It must only be provided to a level of functional safety (to avoid a dangerous situation) and only to a level that is adequate to provide security.

Home modification for aesthetic or embellishments are not an appropriate use of a home care package.

Examples of items that would be covered:

  • Pathways into an around the home
  • Grab rails in bathrooms and toilets
  • Chairlifts and wheelchair platform lifts
  • Internal and External handrails
  • Widening doorways and passages
  • Lever taps and door handles
  • Installation of emergency alarms
  • Bathroom/Kitchen re-design
  • Ramps (permanent and temporary)
  • Handheld showers

Home Maintenance

Any work that is reasonably required to maintain the home and garden in a condition of functional safety (not decorations) and provide an adequate level of security. There would be minor home maintenance activities that you or partner would have previously done for you but can no longer do due to safety concerns.

Examples of items that are covered:

  • Cleaning gutters
  • Changing batteries in smoke alarms
  • Essential pruning, yard clearing or lawn mowing
  • Repair of internal flooring and external access pathways to address trip and slip hazards
  • Changing light bulbs or fixing a broken door
  • Minor plumbing, electrical and carpentry repairs where safety is a concern
  • Spring clean – windows/ceiling fans and other cleaning tasks at height around the home

Food and Food Preparation

The home care package cannot pay for groceries purchased at the supermarket or the raw ingredients of pre-prepared and packed meals

Your home care package can be used to pay for someone to help you prepare meals OR prepare meals for you at home.

A portion of the cost for pre-prepared meals like Meals on Wheels, Lite N Easy and Tender Loving Cuisine can be covered from your Home Care Package (please discuss with your Care Partner).

Transport Costs

If there is a state or local government funded initiative for the use of taxi vouchers, this will be used in the first instance (please discuss with your Care Partner).

Transport and personal assistance to help you get around the community to do your shopping, attend medical appointments or social activities.

Use of taxis or taxi vouchers must be well documented in your Care Plan with the intended purpose of their use linked to your assessed needs.

Glasses

Some people are eligible for glasses to be subsidised by the state government, we must first check your eligibility for those programs.

If you are ineligible or unable to obtain glasses through a state government funded program, the “like for like” cost for subsidized glasses can be covered.

Understanding the permissible uses of Home Care Package funds is crucial for maximising their benefits while ensuring compliance with regulations. By partnering with Trilogy Care, you gain access to expert guidance and support to navigate the complexities of funding allocations. Our commitment is to empower you to make informed decisions that align with your care needs and goals, ultimately enhancing your safety, comfort, and well-being at home.

Learn more about care plans here.