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Maintaining your independence with Home Care

May 04, 2022

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Maintaining your independence with Home Care

If you are aged over 65, Southern Cross Care NSW & ACT can assist you to stay living independently in your own home for longer and the government provides funding through CHSP and Home Care Packages.

CHSP or Home Care Package?

It’s important to understand the differences between a Home Care Package and Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP). Both programs offer support to help you stay at home however, CHSP offers specific services at a basic level of care. Many people start with CHSP before progressing to a Home Care package and eligibility for the service is assessed by the Regional Assessment Service (RAS).

The CHSP can provide services such as:

  • help around the house
  • transport
  • meals
  • personal care
  • home modifications
  • social support
  • nursing and allied health
  • planned respite care

As your care needs increase, a Home Care Package will be essential to live independently in your home. Your eligibility is assessed by the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) and you may be asked to complete an Income Assessment to determine if you need to make a contribution to delivering your services.

A Home Care Package is a coordinated mix of services that can include:

  • help with household tasks
  • equipment (such as walking frames)
  • minor home modifications
  • transport
  • social support
  • personal care
  • clinical care such as nursing, allied health and physiotherapy services
  • care management

There are four levels of Home Care Packages with different funding amounts, from basic support needs through to high care needs. The package level assigned to you is based on your needs.
 

Package level
Level of care needs
Level 1
Basic care needs – around $9,000 a year
Level 2
Low care needs – around $15,750 a year
Level 3
Intermediate care needs – around $34,250 a year
Level 4
High care needs – around $52,000 a year


Steps to apply for your Home Care Package

1. Register with My Aged Care
You can call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or register online at www.myagedcare.gov.au

2. Assessment
My Aged Care will organise for you to have an assessment in your home to determine your needs. This is known as an ACAT Assessment. They will develop a support plan to help address your needs. With your consent they will assess your care needs and eligibility for services and work with you to develop a support plan which addresses your needs, goals and preferences.

3. Approval Letter Received
After assessment, you will soon receive an approval letter from My Aged Care showing what package you are entitled to. You are now in the National Queue and need to wait for your Package to be allocated to you. (This could take up to 12 months)

4. Home Care Package Assigned Letter Received
You are ready to go. You will need to activate your Home Care Package within 56 days so call us on 1800 632 314 or contact us online for more information. Our Service Advisors will work out a plan that suits your individual needs and preferences.

Southern Cross Care is a name you can trust. We are a not-for-profit organisation that’s been helping older people live safely and happily at home for more than 20 years. We can support you with everything from nursing, in-home respite, allied health support, personal care, domestic assistance, transport, shopping and home maintenance and so much more.

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