{"id":8262,"date":"2023-12-18T12:04:48","date_gmt":"2023-12-18T01:34:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adelaideprivatewealth.com.au\/aged-care-challenges-in-the-home\/"},"modified":"2023-12-18T12:04:48","modified_gmt":"2023-12-18T01:34:48","slug":"aged-care-challenges-in-the-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adelaideprivatewealth.com.au\/aged-care-challenges-in-the-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Aged care challenges in the home"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Aging at home with government-subsidised funding is made possible through the Home Care Packages program.<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, a crackdown on what the funds can be used for and a shortage of support workers, can make it challenging to understand the funding available.<\/p>\n

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If you are approved for a Home Care Package you will be assessed at one of four levels. These levels acknowledge the different types of care needed.<\/p>\n

Current annual funding for packages is $10,271.10 for level one (someone with basic care needs); $18,063.85 for level two (low care); $39,310.50 for level three (intermediate care); and $59,593.55 for level four (high care).i<\/sup><\/p>\n

It can take up to six months for a Home Care Package to be assigned following the initial assessment. Once assigned, a provider must be chosen to design a package of aged care services that is best and most appropriate for you \u2013 within the home care package guidelines.<\/p>\n

Providers charge care and package management fees, which were recently capped at a combined 35 per cent of the package funds.<\/p>\n

Income tests apply<\/h3>\n

The packages are income tested, with part pensioners paying no more than $6,543.66 a year and self-funded retirees paying no more than $13,087.39 a year in fees. Full pensioners do not pay an income tested fee.<\/p>\n

Older Australians can apply for a package directly, or through their GP, via the government\u2019s My Age Care aged care gateway.<\/p>\n

Due to high demand for Home Care Packages, you may be offered a lower level package while you wait for the one you are approved for. You may also be given access to the entry level government support known as the Commonwealth Home Support Program \u2013 where individual referral codes are allocated to you to access interim support such as cleaning, transport or personal care at highly subsidised rates.<\/p>\n

A revised manual released earlier this year by the Department of Health clarifying what a Home Care Package can be used for is presenting additional challenges for some package recipients looking to maximise what they can get.ii<\/sup><\/p>\n

Generally, a requested support or service must meet an individual\u2019s \u201cageing related functional decline care needs\u201d. The main categories of care and services you can get from a Home Care Package are services to keep you:<\/p>\n