Under the former Home Care Package (HCP) program, a lot of older Australians were eligible for a package but did not know how to get one. The Home Care Package program was designed to assist older Australians with staying healthy, independent, and safe in their own home. Receiving and starting a Home Care Package could be a lengthy process, and the steps below describe how it worked.
Check your eligibility
My Aged Care states that to be eligible for a package, you must be ‘an older person who needs coordinated services to help stay at home’. Your financial situation won’t affect your eligibility, but may change how much you are asked to contribute to the cost of your care. You can check your eligibility online through My Aged Care’s eligibility checker tool. Simply answer a few questions about your age and care needs to find if you are eligible. You are likely to be eligible if you have recently been diagnosed with a medical condition or reduced mobility, experienced a recent fall or hospital admission, had a change in family care arrangements, or noticed a change in what you can do or remember.
Have your ACAT assessment
Once you have been determined as eligible, you will need to apply for an official ACAT assessment. You can do this by applying online, or by calling My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. Your ACAT assessment will take place in your home, or over phone or video call. Your assessor will ask you a range of questions to determine the level of care you need. Your assessor will also need your proof of ID, Medicare card, GP referrals, and information from services you already receive. You may wish to have family or friends present during this assessment to help you. Check out our ACAT assessment guide to learn more about ACAT assessments. ACAT assessments have since been replaced by the Single Assessment System.
Find out your assessment outcome
You received an outcome letter within 2-6 weeks of your ACAT assessment, outlining which home care package level you had been assigned, and your priority level for that package. If you were deemed eligible for a HCP, you went into the National Priority System and were assigned a package once one became available. You could check a rough estimate of your wait time through the My Aged Care Client Portal, which also showed which services your ACAT assessor had recommended and provided a support plan.
Choose a Home Care Package provider
You don’t need to wait to be allocated a package to begin choosing a home care package provider. A great place to start making a provider list is through My Aged Care’s find a provider tool. You will find a lot of providers in your area with this tool, so you will need to compare providers to make a shortlist. At this stage, you should be considering whether you will choose a self-managed or fully managed home care package provider. Don’t be afraid to call several approved package providers and ask them a series of questions to get a feel for how they will treat you, the services they offer, and whether they have any hidden costs or fees. We compared Trilogy Care with four other Home Care Package providers to give you an idea of what to look out for when choosing a provider.
Get prepared to start with a provider
Once you’d been allocated a Home Care Package, you had 56 days to choose a provider and enter a home care agreement. If you needed more time, you could request a 28-day extension by calling My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. Your provider will need a copy of your referral code to get an idea of your specific situation and start forming a care plan which meets these needs. If you choose to self-manage your home care, you will begin planning your personalised care circle, and choosing the carers you trust at rates you are comfortable paying. Self-management lets you choose the care services you need, when you want, where you want. You may receive an interim level package while you are waiting to be allocated your home care package. This lower-level package is allocated to allow you to begin getting care services as soon as possible.
Start receiving subsidised care services
Once you have signed your home care agreement you will need to wait for your start date with your provider. After this start date, you will begin receiving subsidised home care services, helping you to stay healthy and independent in your own home. Remember that home care package funds can only be used on services that meet your care needs. There are some specific inclusions and exclusions, so make sure you know what Home Care Package funds can be used for. Trilogy Care offers a range of services that will help you stay safe, healthy, independent, and connected to the community within your own home.
How do I get a Home Care Package? - the step-by-step guide
To help you through the process of receiving a home care package, we’ve created a handy step-by-step guide. This guide will take you through the entire process, from finding out if you are eligible and having your ACAT assessment, to preparing for and starting your Home Care Package.
If you don’t think you need a Home Care Package but still require some assistance around the home, the Commonwealth Home Support Programme may be right for you. Make sure you know the different Home Care Package funding levels so that you can start budgeting for your care services.
