It sounds a bit strange to decline a Home Care Package. But there are times when you may be better off declining a lower level Home Care Package while you wait for a higher level Home Care Package and this depends on the fees and charges you are required to pay. You may choose to decline a Home Care Package when the balance between the funds you are receiving and the fees you are required to pay do not add up. 

What can Home Care Package funds be used for?

Home Care Package funds can be used on care and services so you can remain living safely in your own home. You can choose almost any service that will meet this criteria – the sky is the limit!

However, if you’re trying to use your Home Care Package for a service or product that does not directly help you to stay safely in your own home, you could be pushing the limit a little too much! Here are some common examples of things you can’t use a Home Care Package for.

What does a Home Care Package include?

A Home Care Package is an amount of funding that you can choose to spend on whatever care and services you may need to remain living safely at home. The common services include:

  • Cleaning
  • Transport to and from appointments
  • Shopping
  • Meal preparation.

It’s always good to remember that Home Care Packages are consumer directed. This means that you are in control and can choose what services you wish to use with your Home Care Package funds.

Get to know more about Home Care Package inclusions and what your funding can be used for.

How long does it take to get a Home Care Package?

It can take more than 6 months to get the right Home Care Package for your needs. So our biggest tip is to start the process early. You may be offered a lower level Home Care Package than the one you have been assessed for and this is where you may need to weigh up whether it is worth declining the Home Care Package.

For example, you are assessed as needing a Level 3 Home Care Package. After several months of waiting you are offered a Level 1 Home Care Package because there aren’t any Level 3 Home Care Packages available.

If you are required to pay an Income Tested Fee you may decide to decline the Level 1 Home Care Package while you wait for your Level 3 Home Care Package. This may make sense but everyone’s situation is different and it’s worth getting good advice before you choose to decline a Home Care Package.

Here are some great tips on what you can do to try to speed up the process while you’re waiting for your Home Care Package.

What is a Level 3 Home Care Package?

A Level 3 Home Care Package provides $39,311 worth of funds for you to spend on keeping you living safely at home. Like all Home Care Packages you can choose who delivers the care and services from your Home Care Package. The funds sit with you but need to be administered by a government accredited provider of Home Care Packages. These organisations are called Home Care Providers.

Home Care Providers all charge different fees and this may influence whether or not you choose to decline a Home Care Package. Make sure you are well informed of your choices before you make your final decision.

There may be a situation when you are better off paying privately for any care and services you need and declining a Home Care Package. This is an unusual situation but may be the right decision depending on the fees and charges you are required to pay.

We’re here to help!

There are over 900 Home Care Providers across Australia so it can really tricky to make a comparison. If you’re stuck trying to work out whether or not you should decline a Home Care Package give us a call today and we can talk you through it.