How can I assist my family member to stay at home longer?

When it comes to broaching the subject of in-home aged care services with a loved one, it’s important to remind them that asking for help doesn’t mean they will lose their independence. Seeking assistance enables people to stay safe and well in their home for longer.

Help in the home can start with something small, such as transport for groceries, or domestic assistance for cleaning once a week. As their requirements change, services can be altered or increased. More importantly, starting the assessment process for My Aged Care as early as possible means your loved one is already in the system, making it easier for re-assessment if there comes a time when they unexpectedly need more assistance at home (for example, post-hospital care). In-home aged care services can fall under two government funded categories, depending on the outcome of an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) assessment by My Aged Care. Your loved one will need to have their eligibility checked via face-to-face assessment. They can call the ACAT team to talk about their needs (or you can if you’re their legal representative) or they can apply online.

If your loved one is able to manage, but needs support with a few tasks, they could be eligible for aged care funding support services through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP). This program aims to help those who need a low level of support to keep living independently and is recommended to those who need one or two services.

Home Care Packages (HCP) are for those with greater or more complex care needs. If your loved one needs care and support services on an ongoing basis, they could be eligible for a Home Care Package.

If a loved one is not eligible for My Aged Care funding, private payments can be made for integratedliving services.

Wondering how you can help your loved ones start their aged care journey? You can view our recorded Carers virtual forum below to find out more: