Home Care and Gardening services
You are able to claim light home and garden care under your Home Care Package and this may include a regular gardening service
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Support at Home and gardening services
Do you consider your garden an integral part of your home and a source of pride and joy? You may have spent decades establishing it and looking forward to a long retirement of gardening pleasure.
Not only a source of colour and beauty, your garden may also help you live a longer and healthier life. There is plenty of evidence pointing to the many health and therapeutic benefits of gardening for older people.
These benefits include:
- Providing an enjoyable form of exercise and helping prevent diseases of ageing, such as osteoporosis
- Maintaining mobility and flexibility
- Encouraging the use of motor skills
- Reducing stress levels and promoting relaxation
- Providing wellbeing through social interaction
- Providing nutritious, home-grown produce
However, as you get older, the work required in maintaining a garden, especially if it is a relatively large one, can often become too much and you may need some extra help.
Under the Support at Home program, funding can be used for services designed to help you remain safe, independent and living comfortably in your own home. Gardening assistance falls under the Everyday Living service category, which covers regular household activities such as cleaning, shopping and meal preparation.
It pays to be creative when it comes to thinking of things that will make your garden safer and easier to look after. It’s also important to discuss these ideas with your provider to ensure services fit within your support plan and budget.
What gardening services can I pay for?
You can claim light home and garden care under Everyday Living supports, and this may include a regular gardening service. On top of cleaning gutters or trimming hedges, many gardeners will be able to mow your lawns, prune, clip and weed, mulch, feed and water plants and remove green waste.
You may also be able to use your budget to pay for certain modifications to your garden, making it safer and easier for you to enjoy.
Some examples may include:
- Fixing uneven flooring or garden paths
- Cleaning gutters
- Minor garden maintenance including weeding, pruning and lawn mowing
Who will carry out the work?
Your Support at Home provider will most likely have their own list of preferred gardeners and tradespeople and can organise any work that needs to be done on your behalf.
Alternatively, if you have a regular gardener you’d like to continue using, you may be able to pay for their services through your budget, so long as they have an Australian Business Number and can provide you with an invoice.
Find providers with great gardening services!
For free expert advice on maximising your Support at Home funds, or to find a great provider in your area, contact CareAbout.
