FAQ
How to prepare for our first meeting?
During your assessment, you’ll be asked about:
- What you can do for yourself and what you’re seeking assistance with
- If you have any health concerns
- How you’re managing with activities around the home
- Your safety in the home.
- You may also be observed moving in and around your home to understand any mobility challenges you may be facing.
When answering questions, it’s really important to think about the future as well as the present. Talk about tasks and activities that are starting to become difficult and that you can see you may require more help with in the future.
How long will the assessment take? Typically, an assessment will take 60 to 90 minutes. During that time, our advisor will work with you to develop a support plan to help identify your strengths and your areas of difficulty, your goals and what you would like to achieve. The plan will help you and the advisor identify the types of support that will best suit you.
NDIS am I elegible?
To find out if you or your loved one are eligible there is a great questionnaire that you can go through the NDIS.
Questions include do you need help from a support person because of your disability? Do you use special equipment?
As part of the Access Request process, you will be asked:
- to confirm your identity and/or a person’s authority to act on your behalf
- questions to see if you meet the NDIS access requirements (age, residence and disability)
- questions about providing consent to enter the NDIS and about seeking information from third parties.
- If you currently get disability supports, and you would like your provider to give us your information, you must first provide consent, and complete and ‘Access Request Form’. Source: NDIS.
More Questions
Researching government funding for home care can be quite overwhelming. There are a few different types of government-funded programs and it’s hard to work out which one is best for you, depending on your needs.
Here we look at the difference between the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) and Home Care Packages (HCP) and explain how to get the help you need.
The CHSP was launched in July 2015 and is the entry level tier of the Commonwealth aged care system.
This means it’s usually considered the first step for older Australians to get some help at home. It’s designed to provide a small amount of funding for people who need a little extra help to live safely at home.
It’s not income or means tested. You will need to make a small financial contribution to your service though and the government subsidises the rest. You receive your services in a care plan and it’s usually limited to a few hours a week.
To be eligible, you must be aged:
- 65 years or older (50 years or older for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people), or
- 50 years or older (45 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and on a low income, homeless, or at risk of being homeless.
Find out more about applying for the Commonwealth Home Support Program.
Home Care Packages (HCP) are the second tier of support in the aged care system. They’re designed to provide a coordinated package of services to help you live in your home for longer.
There are four levels of support ranging from basic to high care needs. The Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) will need to assess you. After your assessment, you will receive a letter advising you whether they are approved you for care and at what level.
For example, you might need some help with bathing or perhaps a cleaner to come around once a week. You might need someone to take you out to do some shopping or help you attend a community event.
There is a waiting list for accessing HCP so you can use CHSP funding while you wait.
Find out more about applying for a Home Care Package.
The support provided by the CHSP and Home Care Packages is fairly similar. They both can help you with everyday tasks and provide you with support to help you live at home.
The fundamental difference is how much support you need and how long you need it for. If you think you only need one or two services a week, then the CHSP might be a better option for you.
If you think your needs are a bit more complex, it may be best to apply for a Home Care Package.
In most circumstances, you shouldn’t get CHSP and HCP funding at the same time. However, there are some exceptions. They are:
- If you are on a Level 1 or 2 HCP and your budget has been fully allocated, you can access additional, short-term Allied Health and Therapy services or Nursing services from the CHSP. These specific services must be to help you recover after a setback.
- If you’re on a Level 1 to 4 HCP and your budget is already fully allocated however your carer needs respite, you can access additional planned respite services under the CHSP (on a short-term basis only).
- If you’re on a Level 1 to 4 HCP and find yourself in an emergency (including if your carer can’t maintain their caring role) and your HCP budget is already fully allocated, you can receive extra services under the broader CHSP on an emergency or short-term basis. These instances must be time limited, monitored and reviewed.
- If you’re on an interim Level 1 or 2 package and are waiting for a Level 3 or 4 HCP and your home care package budget is already fully allocated, you can access additional home modifications from the CHSP.
If you need help at home, you don’t need to manage the process alone. Engage our team’s expertise to reduce the complexity of managing home care day-to-day care – Call us today 0425 622 349.
