Home Care Package: Comprehensive Overview

What is a Home Care Package

A Home Care Package is a government-subsidised program that enables older Australians to receive tailored care and support while continuing to live in their own homes. Rather than moving into residential aged care, a Home Care Package offers flexibility and choice, allowing individuals to stay independent and live safely in the comfort of their own homes for as long as possible.

This support can cover a wide range of services, including personal care, domestic assistance, health services, and even social support. With four different levels of Home Care Packages available, the system is designed to accommodate varying degrees of need, from basic care to more complex care requirements.

For many older Australians, maintaining independence and staying at home is a priority. Home Care Packages are specifically designed to make this goal achievable, with government funding helping to cover the cost of essential services.

From basic care tasks, such as cleaning and meal preparation, to higher-level services, including nursing and allied health care, a Home Care Package can be tailored to meet each individual’s unique needs.

Understanding the different Home Care Package levels

There are four levels of Home Care Packages, each designed to provide support for different levels of care needs. The higher the level, the more funding is available to provide a broader range of services.

Let’s explore each package level in detail:

• Level 1: This level is designed for those with basic care needs. It provides assistance with everyday tasks, such as cleaning, shopping, meal preparation, and transport. For example, if you need a little extra help getting to appointments or keeping your home tidy, a Level 1 package can provide this support.
• Level 2: For those with low-level care needs, Level 2 packages offer a wider range of services. At this level, you might receive personal care support such as bathing and dressing, as well as home maintenance and social support.
• Level 3: A Level 3 package is suitable for individuals with intermediate care needs. It offers more comprehensive support, including assistance with medication, mobility aids, and equipment. At this level, you may also receive more frequent personal care and health-related services.
• Level 4: This level is designed for those with high-level care needs and offers the highest amount of funding. At this level, you might receive more intensive personal care, nursing services, and specialist health care.

Regardless of the package level, each Home Care Package is designed to be flexible and cater to individual needs. As those needs change over time, your Home Care Package can be adjusted to ensure you continue to receive the right level of support. Whether you’re receiving basic care or require more intensive help, there’s a Home Care Package that fits you and your needs.

Read more about Feros Care’s Home Care Package fees here.

Home Care Package wait times

To make sure you get the support you need when you need it, it’s strongly recommended to apply for a Home Care Package as early as possible. There is a national waitlist, so starting the process sooner will help ensure timely access to care services.

According to My Aged Care, the expected wait time for an approved Home Care Package (starting from the date on the letter of approval) for medium priority applicants is:

• Level 1: 1 – 3 months
• Level 2: 3 – 6 months
• Level 3: 9 – 12 months
• Level 4: 12 – 15 months

*Last revised by My Aged Care on 30 September 2024

How Home Care Package funding works

The Australian Government provides the bulk of Home Care Package funding, helping to make this essential support accessible to more people. However, depending on your financial situation, you may also need to contribute to the cost of your care.

The Australian Government provides the bulk of Home Care Package funding, helping to make this essential support accessible to more people. However, depending on your financial situation, you may also need to contribute to the cost of your care.

Basic daily fee:

At Feros Care, the basic daily fee is not mandatory. It will only be suggested if you need more care than what is available to you via the Australian Government subsidy.

The Australian Government sets this optional basic daily fee at up to 17.5% of the basic age pension, depending on the Home Care Package level approved.

Income tested care fee:

For those with limited income, the government subsidy covers the majority of costs associated with a Home Care Package. However, if you have a higher income, you may be required to contribute more through the income tested care fee.

The income tested care fee is calculated through an income assessment and is only applicable to individuals who have a higher income. The income assessment takes into account your financial situation, including any income you receive from pensions, superannuation, or other sources. If your income exceeds a certain threshold, you may be required to contribute more towards your Home Care Package.

Other fees:

Care management fee – Covers ongoing administrative and organisational costs including staff training, insurances, and rostering to name a few.

Package management fee – Covers costs associated with things like making calls on your behalf (e.g. liaising with My Aged Care), processing invoices, sending emails relating to your care etc.

As we have a provider-managed model at Feros Care, you are assigned a Wellbeing Manager to coordinate all of these tedious and time-consuming tasks. The costs are all wrapped up into the care management fee.

Self-managed packages, however, incur additional costs for these tasks (called ‘charge for service’ fees), as they are not included in your package.

The Home Care Package budget

One of the key advantages of a Home Care Package is that it allows you to take control of how your care funding is spent. Every Home Care Package comes with an allocated budget, which is managed by your Home Care Package provider. This Home Care Package budget is designed to cover the services you need to remain independent and comfortable at home.

Your Home Care Package provider will work with you to design a budget plan that suits your needs and priorities. This may include basic care services like personal care and domestic help or more advanced health-related services. The flexibility of the Home Care Package budget allows you to choose the services that are most important to you, whether that’s having help with day-to-day tasks or accessing more complex aged care services and options.

The ability to manage your own Home and Care Package budget means you can make the most of your allocated funding, ensuring you receive the care you need in the areas that matter most. By working closely with your provider, you can adjust your services over time as your needs change.

Package management and flexibility

Your Home Care Package provider also plays a crucial role in your package management and care agreement, ensuring that the funds allocated to your package are used effectively and efficiently. Package management includes planning, budgeting, and coordinating the services you receive, as well as regularly reviewing your care plan to ensure it meets your needs.

This flexibility is one of the great benefits of Home Care Packages. As your needs evolve, your provider can adjust the types of services you receive and how your package funds are allocated. This might mean moving from a lower-level package to a higher-level package over time or simply tweaking the mix of services to better suit your situation.

The aged care assessment process

Before you can apply for a Home Care Package, you must first undergo an aged care assessment by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT, or ACAS in Victoria) and be eligible in Australia. This team consists of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and social workers, who assess your care needs to determine which Home Care Package level is appropriate for you.

The aged care assessment team will evaluate your current living situation, your ability to perform daily tasks, and your health needs. They’ll also discuss your goals for remaining at home and how a Home Care Package can best support you in achieving them. The outcome of this assessment will determine the package level you qualify for, whether you need basic care or more complex assistance.

Once your assessment is complete, you’ll receive approval for a Home Care Package, and you can begin working with the provider of your choice to design your care plan.

Your care plan will be tailored by your approved provider to suit your needs and adjusted over time as those needs change.

Why choose a Home Care Package?

A Home Care Package offers the best of both worlds, enabling older Australians to continue living at home while receiving the care and support they need. For many, staying at home provides a greater sense of independence, comfort, and familiarity. A Home Care Package ensures that you can maintain this independence while receiving help with everyday tasks, personal care, extra support, and even more complex care services as needed.

Additionally, Home Care Packages offer flexibility. Whether you need basic care or more intensive health services, the package is tailored to your unique situation. As your needs change, your package can be adjusted, ensuring you always have the support you need.

Ultimately, Home Care Packages are about empowering individuals to live life on their own terms safely and independently while receiving the assistance they require. From basic care to more complex services, a Home Care Package is designed to help you stay at home for longer (almost two times longer than the national average with Feros Care*).

If you’re considering a Home Care Package, or would like to know more about the process, Feros Care is here to help. From the initial aged care assessment to managing your home care package funds, we’ll guide you every step of the way to ensure you receive the right level of support for your needs. We’ll be your partner in care, and help you unlock a healthier and happier future.

*Of the thousands of customers who have trusted Feros Care as their HCP provider we have helped them to remain living at home for an average 27.6 months compared to the national provider average of 15.6 months cited within the 2024 People Leaving Aged Care Report. (Australian Government, Australian Institute of Health & Welfare, www.gen-agedcaredata.gov.au)

To learn more about how we can support you, phone us on 1300 090 256 or visit our home care packages page.