When Your Needs Change—So Should Your Care

Because care isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution—and your support should grow with you.

Whether you’re navigating care for yourself or a loved one, one essential truth is often missed: care should never stay static—it should evolve with your needs.

Too often, people stick with the same support, the same schedule, and the same services long after they’ve stopped being the right fit. Why? Because reassessing your care can feel like “too much hassle,” or worse, like you’re asking for more than you’re allowed.But the reality is, government-funded Home Care Packages (HCPs) are designed to adapt to your needs—not the other way around.

Feeling like something’s off? That’s a sign.

If you or your loved one (who’s the care recipient) ever report any of the following—

Then it’s time to rethink your current provider:

• You’re using personal savings to cover extra services your provider doesn’t offer
  
• You’re skipping showers because the carer only visits once a week
  
• You’ve been feeling more anxious or less safe at home
  
• Tasks that used to be easy like cooking or shopping now feel too hard
  
• You’re not sure what you’re actually paying for anymore

Sound familiar? Then it’s time to take a closer look.

You’re allowed to ask for extra (or different) support

Unfortunately, we hear this a lot: “I didn’t know I could ask for something else.”

But here’s the deal:

• Your care plan isn’t set in stone—it can and should be reviewed regularly.
  
• Your provider works for you, not the other way around.
  
• If your needs have changed, your funding might need to be reallocated or increased.
  
• You can switch providers if your current provider isn’t meeting your needs.

It’s not about being ‘picky’—it’s about advocating for support that genuinely fits your current needs.

What can I expect a care refresh to include?

When seeking more support, or navigating, provider changes—

Here are a few common changes CareAbout helps eligible care recipients to make:

• Adding more hours of support (as needs increase or conditions progress)
  
• Swapping out unused services for ones that are more relevant
  
• Accessing allied health like physio, podiatry or counselling
  
• Updating home modifications to improve safety and comfort
  
• Reallocating budgets to get better value from the package

Even making any of these small tweaks, can have a significant impact on the quality of care you receive.

Your needs have changed. Now what?

Don’t panic and don’t stay stuck.

Here’s what to do:

• Talk to your provider – Ask for a care plan review. They should sit down with you to update goals, services, and schedules.
  
• Check your funding level – You may need to request a reassessment from My Aged Care if your needs have grown beyond your current package level.
  
• Call CareAbout – We can assist you in assessing whether your current support remains the best fit (and guide you through your alternatives if it doesn’t).

The right care is flexible, responsive, and about you

You’re not being unreasonable. You’re simply asking for the care you need, when you need it.

That’s what the system should do—and if it’s not, CareAbout is here to help set things right.

We’re here to CareAbout you—and at no cost.