What is a Home Care Package?

A Home Care Package is a pool of funding allocated to you by the government to assist older Australians over 65 with care and support in your own home. These packages offer levels of support beyond what the commonwealth home support programme can provide.

Home care packages also known as my aged care packages, centrelink home care packages, my aged care home care packages and government-subsidised home care packages.

Benefits of Home Care Packages

Receiving care in your own home is beneficial to you as well as to the government, so the support they are offering is generous and worth taking up! Let’s understand the benefits of home care package fundings.

Home care packages are provided under a consumer directed care model, which means that you choose how and what to spend your funds on, in partnership with your approved provider.
Home care packages recipients receive more funds and services compared to CHSP.
There are four levels of home care packages and each level provides a different amount of funds which are used to pay for any services that will contribute to you remaining safely at home.
The HCP funds are provided to an approved Home Care Provider, who carefully coordinates a personalised package of services and support to meet your needs. This ensures that you can receive services easily, with less concern about managing the funds yourself. Unless you choose a self-managed home care package option.

What are the four levels of Home Care Packages?

Home Care Packages are divided into four levels, with each level receiving a different level of funding. Funding is based upon care requirements and reflects the amount of support needed. As such, those assigned to HCP level 1 and HCP level 2 require a low level of care and those assigned to HCP level 3 or HCP Level 4 require a high level of care and support. Learn more about – Home Care Package Levels

How does home care package funding work?

The Australian Government pays a different subsidy amount for each level of Home Care Package. They will also pay for supplements for specific additional care needs. These amounts are paid to the home care provider you choose for the services they deliver.

The total amount of a Home Care Package is made up of what:

The Australian Government pays (the subsidies and supplements) and
Your home care package fees (income tested care fee and basic daily fee).

Who is eligible for a Home Care Package in Australia?

To be eligible for a Home Care Package in Australia you need to be aged:

65 or over (50 or over for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people)
50 or over and also on a low income, homeless or at risk of being homeless (45 or over for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people).

HCPs offer higher levels of assistance than the CHSP. The eligibility ages are the same, however, HCPs are for people who need greater or more complex care. There are 4 levels of package available, which give you different amounts of funding depending on your care needs.

How am I assigned to a Home Care Package level?

Being allocated to a level 1, 2, 3 or 4 My Aged Care Home Care Package depends upon an individual’s current circumstances and requirements. During your Aged Care Assessment, your assessor will ask a range of questions to determine which level Package is best to meet your care needs.

CareAbout recommends you are realistic about your needs.

Many older Australians dislike feeling vulnerable or asking for help, but to ensure you receive the level of care to help you stay comfortable within your own home, it is important to show vulnerability during your Assessment.

Inclusions and Exclusions of Home Care Packages

Your home care package funds should be utilised towards services that meet your home care needs as accessed by the My Aged Care assessors or ACAT team that includes services like – Home modification, gardening, aid and equipment, cleaners, nutrition and diet, Medicare, meal providers etc.

However, home care package funds cannot be used for travel and accommodation for holidays, rent payments, gambling activities, cost of entertainment activities, home modification or assets that are not related to your care needs etc.

Need Help Finding A Home Care Provider?

CareAbout is Australia’s leading Home Care placement service. We’ve helped thousands of families choose the right Home Care provider and Residential Aged Care for their needs and we would love to help you. 

Call us today and get free, no-obligation access to our team of Aged Care Specialists.