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Home Care Packages

Understanding what it is and how it works

What are Home Care Packages?

Government funded aged care at home

The Home Care Package program aims to support individuals aged 65 and older in maintaining their independence and safety while living at home.

Our aim is to ensure you receive the necessary care and support in the comfort of your own home, allowing you to remain there with ease. When you obtain a Home Care Package, the government designates funds specifically for your care, which are then directed to the Home Care Package provider you select.

Our Home Care Package services, tailored to you

Aging should not hinder your ability to enjoy the lifestyle you desire and retain your independence at home. We offer a variety of personalized in-home aged care services across Melbourne, designed to meet your individual goals and preferences. Whether you need assistance for a few hours or around-the-clock care, our comprehensive aged care services are available at home whenever you need them, with the flexibility to adjust the level of care as necessary.

Personal and self-care

Support for daily activities

Domestic assistance

Social and community participation

Dementia care and support

24-hour support

Companion care

Palliative care support

In-home respite

Nursing care

Home Care Packages in details

Discover all the information you require. This is a comprehensive overview of the various elements of Home Care Packages.

Eligibility

Find out if you're eligible for a Home Care Package and learn about the assessment process.

Costs

Find out how government funding work for Home Care Packages and how much you could receive.

Changing providers

You have the right to choose the care provider you want. Find out how to change your care provider here.

How do I know if I'm eligible?

An independent evaluation by the Aged Care Assessment Service (ACAS) is necessary. This is mandated by the government, and we are unable to conduct the assessment on our own. Learn more about your eligibility below.

Home Care Package funding at a glance

Home Care Packages are available in four funding levels, each reflecting your care requirements. Additionally, it’s important to understand the various fees that may be associated with your package.

Funding level Care needs level Approximate funding amount
Level 1
Basic care needs
$10,588.65 a year
Level 2
Low-level care needs
$18,622.30 a year
Level 3
Intermediate care needs
$40,529.60 a year
Level 4
High-level care needs
$61,440.45 a year

You can change providers any time

Upon receiving a Home Care Package, you have the right to switch your care provider if you believe another provider would better meet your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

As a Home Care Package recipient, we are required to give you a Home Care Agreement which outlines our obligation to provide your Home Care Package services.

You are free to cancel the Care Agreement and leave us whenever you want by providing us with 14 days’ notice. 

We do not charge any Exit Fees if you choose to leave us and we will support you to transition to a new provider.

There is no difference. However, we prefer using the term Care Manager as it implies that we are looking after your care needs.

After an initial assessment with your Care Manager (they’re all Registered Nurses), we’ll set up the services you need. Whether it’s personal care or domestic help from one of our Carers, a range of other services from third party providers or purchasing equipment, we’ve got you! We’ll get it sorted quickly and professionally.

We have a minimum of a 2-hour personal care visit and a 30-minute minimum for nursing services.

You will have a dedicated Care Manager who is quite simply there for you. Their job is to make sure that your Home Care Package is working for you and that you are getting the support and services that you need.

They are responsible for developing your Care Plan with you and ensuring it is appropriate to meet your goals within your Package budget. They will organise the services and products you require as part of you package and if you receive Care services from us, they will ensure that the right Carer is selected for you. Your Care Manager will stay in touch with you regularly to make sure the supports you are receiving remain appropriate to your needs and situation and that your Care Plan is reviewed and modified should your needs change. 

Once you have decided you would like to receive care with Absolute Care & Health, we will generally book in your care management assessment and begin your services within 7 days.

While we strive to provide you with a consistent carer so that you can develop a friendly relationship with them, we do create a team of carers that can assist you in case of carer sickness or leave arrangements.

We do this so you are familiar and comfortable with any backup carers that may need to step in and provide your service.

Find out more about Home Care Packages

Get our information pack to learn more about our Home Care Package services. It contains all the essential details for new clients and their families to begin.

Home Care Packages

Eligibility

How do I know if I'm eligible?

Get the most from your Home Care Package

You need to have your eligibility assessed by the Aged Care Assessment Service (ACAS) and they will determine your package level.

They will take your specific situation into account and handle each case on a personal basis. If you do not qualify for a Home Care Package, you might still receive assistance through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme. To arrange an assessment, contact My Aged Care at 1800 200 422, the government agency responsible for managing Home Care Packages.

Frequently asked questions about Home Care Package

We can help you understand what’s involved with Home Care Packages if you have any questions.

You need to get in touch with the government’s My Aged Care service. They will organise a care assessment with you, and this will determine what kind of government support you are entitled to. We can also refer you if you would like.

If you aren’t currently eligible for government funding, you can still access home care services and pay for them privately. In the future you may be able to have your eligibility reassessed.

You may also be able to access other types of funding, get in touch with us to discuss your options or find out more about privately funded care.

If you find that you require more care than your Home Care Package funding allows, you can pay for additional care privately. If your needs have increased since you were allocated a Home Care Package, you can ask to be re-assessed for a higher level package​.

How to get your eligibility assessed?

We are here to assist you in initiating government-funded care and will guide you every step of the way. If you have any inquiries, feel free to reach out, and we will gladly provide support.

Get in touch

Contact the government's My Aged Care service for assistance in setting up your eligibility assessment. We can also provide referrals and support you in the process if needed.

Assessment

An evaluation will be conducted at your residence to assess your eligibility for government-funded in-home care, which will be arranged via My Aged Care.

Outcome

If you qualify for a Home Care Package, you might have to contribute to your funding amount if your income exceeds a specific threshold. However, if you are receiving the full Age Pension, no contribution will be required.

Find out more about Home Care Packages

To learn more about our operations, please download our information pack, which contains all the essential details about our identity and services.

Costs

More care, less fees

We provide peace of mind

Your chosen provider will charge a fee for managing your Home Care Package. The higher the fees, the less money is left in your package for your care services.

At Absolute Care & Health, we prioritize keeping our fees affordable. Our outstanding reputation stems from delivering exceptional care without hidden costs. Many clients have made the switch from other providers to benefit from our superior value! We offer reassurance through:

Home Care Package price list

Home Care Packages offer four distinct funding tiers based on your care requirements. Additionally, there are various costs and fees linked to these packages that may be perplexing, so we are here to clarify all the essential details.

Subsidy Level (amounts shown are fortnightly) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Home Care Package funding (excluding supplements)
$406.14
$714.28
$1,554.56
$2,356.62
Care Management
$68.00
$120.00
$230.00
$350.00
Package Management
$40.00
$70.00
$100.00
$155.00
% of your package spent on Care Management and Package Management costs
26%
26%
21%
21%
Amount remaining for you to spend on your care
$298.14
$524.28
$1,224.56
$1,851.62
Approx number of hours of personal care available from your remaining funds**
3 hrs
5.5 hrs
13 hrs
20.5 hrs

The process for new clients

We are here to assist you in initiating a government home care subsidy. Below is the procedure for new clients to secure government funding:

We can guide you through the process of getting a Home Care Package. We can answer any questions you have about how it works.

We will also talk to you about your care requirements and lifestyle goals so we can have better idea about the care you need. Get in touch with us to get started.

Call My Aged Care on 1800009924 and tell them you would like to register for a Home Care Package. They will organise an assessment for you to determine which funding level you are eligible for.

We can refer you for an assessment if you prefer and help you understand the process along the way.

Once you have been approved and allocated a Home Care Package, sign up with Absolute Care & Health as your Care Provider.

One of our Care Manager will carry out a care assessment and personal discovery and care planning session with you.

This is to fully understand your goals and lifestyle aspirations. We get to know your preferences so we can tailor our care to you, including matching you with the right caregiver for you.

We develop a written Care Plan for you. This is based on your goals and outlines the services we will provide so it’s clear for everyone involved.

The Care Plan doesn’t lock you in for any set period of time and you can leave whenever you want. With absolutely no exit fees.

Your Care Plan is fully flexible and we can amend it at any time depending on your needs. We will always review it with you regularly.

Find out more about Home Care Packages

To learn more about our operations, please download our information pack, which contains all the essential details about our identity and services.

PROVIDERS

Switching providers is easy

Get the most from your Home Care Package

Changing your Home Care Package provider is easy and we can help you with the whole process if you’d like.

Should you decide to switch to Absolute Care & Health as your care provider, we are here to assist you throughout the entire process. Here’s how we can help:

It is crucial for your peace of mind and wellbeing to feel at ease and confident with your care provider. We strive to ensure that for you.

How to switch your Home Care Package in 6 steps?

Changing your Home Care Package provider is simpler than you may expect, and it comes with numerous advantages. Our 6-step guide is designed to streamline the process for you.

Some care providers have minimum notice periods or exit fees when you change providers. Check your Home Care Agreement or ask your current provider to find out if these apply to you.

Write to your current provider and tell them that you are moving your Home Care Package and giving them notice as specified in your existing Home Care Agreement.

Ask your current provider to confirm in writing the last date that they will provide your care – this is known as your cessation date.

Call My Aged Care to tell them you’re switching your Home Care Package to a new provider. Ask for your new Unique Referral Code.

Give your new provider your Unique Referral Code so they can access your My Aged Care records and register as your new care provider.

Any unspent funds from your package will be transferred to your new provider.

Myths and misunderstandings

They are not allowed to do this. The Government has ruled that any unspent Home Care package funds will move with you. The only money your current provider can keep is the cost of any services or products they have already provided to you and any Exit Fee that is specified in your Home Care Agreement with them.

Your Home Care Package cannot be taken away from you because you switch providers. It will remain with you no matter how many times you change providers. However, you must start with your new provider within 56 days of finishing your care with your old provider. If you need longer to decide on a new provider, you can ask for an extra 28 days.

Your Home Care Agreement with your current provider will specify how much notice you must give them. You are not obliged to give any more notice than is specified here. If you have a long notice period, they may agree to agree to shorten it if you ask.

They are not allowed to stop care. Your care provider has a responsibility to provide your care up until the end of your notice period.

Your new provider must clearly outline all their fees in your Home Care Agreement and must develop with you a written Care Plan which outlines the care they will provide against your Home Care package budget. They cannot charge anything other than what is outlined in these documents without your prior permission. If there is anything you are not happy with in these documents, ask them to change it.

Find out more about Home Care Packages

To learn more about our operations, please download our information pack, which contains all the essential details about our identity and services.

Health Assessments

Our nurse-led health assessments

Enhance your quality compliance

We offer comprehensive annual health assessments for your Home Care Package clients. Acknowledging the difficulties that many providers encounter, we are ready to assist you in addressing any resource or expertise shortfalls.

Our yearly health evaluation service is tailored to assist Home Care Package organizations in meeting the continuous assessment and planning needs of Standard 2. Our team consists of skilled Registered Nurses, and we cover all regions of Melbourne. Our nurse-led health evaluations offer:

We provide a range of clinical services such as wound care, medication administration, catheter management, and additional support.

Home Care Packages in details

Discover comprehensive insights into the various elements of Home Care Packages.

Obtain comprehensive client health histories & functional assessment information

Registered Nurses perform comprehensive evaluations that allow Healthcare Provider Case Managers to develop customized care plans and service timelines for every client.

Identify additional subsidy eligibility

Our evaluations can determine whether your client is eligible for extra subsidies or the dementia supplement via a Cognitive Decline Assessment.

Manage and mitigate risks

We create tailored risk management plans that pinpoint potential risks and suggest effective strategies for mitigation.

Apply for higher funded packages

Our evaluations can determine if your client qualifies for extra subsidies related to their Package funding. Additionally, we offer a Cognitive Decline Assessment that can be utilized to apply for the dementia supplement, if necessary.

Comply with Standard 2 of the Aged Care Quality Standards

Performing routine Health Assessments for your clients ensures adherence to Standard 2 of the Aged Care Quality Standards.

Find out more about our nurse-led health assessments

Learn how collaborating with us can help your organization fulfill compliance standards, enhance care plans, and achieve outstanding results for your clients.

What our clients say about us

Throughout my time at home, I was attended to by several nurses, all of whom were exceptionally courteous and professional. They truly became part of our family, even earning some affectionate nicknames. I cannot praise your entire team enough!