My Aged Care, a program provided by the Australian Government, allows elderly Australians to access a wide range of aged care services. It enables them to choose the level of help and support they require to carry out their daily lives safely and independently.
Eligibility Criteria And Process To Apply
Older Australians who need additional support while living at home, are eligible to receive Home Care Packages (HCP). These packages offer affordable and accessible care to those living with complex care needs, which go beyond the Commonwealth Home Support Programme.
The process is as follows:
- The applicant first needs to register themselves at My Aged Care.
- They will then be referred for an assessment to find out which level of Home Care Package will best suit their requirements.
- Based on the result of this assessment, the applicant receives the level-appropriate allocated funds for their Home Care Package.
- The next step is to find an approved aged care provider in your area who can support you to meet your complex care needs. They work in tandem with the care recipient to carefully plan, organise and deliver the Home Care Package.
What Can These Funds Be Used For?
In addition to these funds being used for in-home aged care services, they can also be used to purchase support equipment or modify living spaces to accommodate personal needs. For example, a Home Care Package can be used to order walking support equipment or install wheelchair ramps outside homes, depending on the level of care needed.
However, equipment and modification requests are first reviewed by the care provider and other healthcare professionals like general physicians, physiotherapists or any other health practitioners. This is done to establish that the outcome of this aid will be in the favour of the consumers’ well-being.
Apart from these, pet care, cooking, visiting places, attending exercise sessions and going to the park or library to enjoy their favourite pastime safely, are some services that are also a part of the Home Care Package.
Conclusion
Our elderly loved ones have the right to live independently with dignity and safety. Therefore, under the My Aged Care Home Care Package (HCP), a simple yet functional care plan can be developed for the care recipient, that can cater to a variety of complex care needs.
