My Aged Care Home Care Packages: What You Need to Know
When it comes to your My Aged Care Home Care Package, it is important to know that it is not a ‘one size fits all’ service. How you choose to spend it, may differ vastly from the next person, as not all of us have the same needs. The great thing with this is that you have choice and flexibility in the way it is used, ultimately providing the aged care services and support that is right for you.
Support and Services
With your My Aged Care Home Care Package, you have various support and service options to choose from such as:
- Cleaning, laundry, and meal preparation
- Garden and home maintenance
- Transport to and from appointments or shopping
- Assistance with bathing and dressing
- Access to allied health services such as physiotherapy, massage therapy and podiatry
- Referrals to other services in the community such as exercise groups, hydrotherapy and day programs.
There is no ‘right’ way to allocate your My Aged Care Home Care Package, but your care program must be custom-made to help you achieve your lifestyle requirements. At Home Care Assistance, we can help guide you through the process of utilising your My Aged Care Home Care Package efficiently, to ensure your health, home, and well-being needs are met while providing you with the assurance and option to live safely and independently at home, as you age in place.
Time Waits for No One
Once you have been assigned a My Aged Care Home Care Package, you are allocated a referral code to give to your selected home care provider. At this juncture, it is important to know that your referral code is only valid for 56 days – there is no time like the present! Don’t wait. Start your research as soon as you receive your home care package approval to avoid unnecessary delays and unwanted stress.
Researching in-home care for a loved one aging in place can be overwhelming, not to mention challenging when it comes to deciding what’s best for your family. The relationship with your home care provider is an important one, which makes it all the more imperative to compare at least two to three home care providers before settling on the one that meets all your requirements, and has the best offering.
For most families, in-home care is the best option, as your loved one can stay in the comfort of their own home while continuing to live as they have, but with the additional support of professional in-home care assistance.
There is a Difference
Choosing an in-home care provider for the first time can be tricky, with many assuming that they are all the same. They aren’t. When it comes to selecting the best in-home care services for a loved one, the importance of a reliable and experienced in-home care provider is paramount, and here are just a few of the questions you need to be asking:
- Are they a government-approved provider of home care packages?
- Are Care Professionals employed by the company directly or are they contractors?
- What level of training do their Care Professionals receive?
- What are the package management/administration fees?
- Can you contact someone 24 hours 7 days a week if there is a problem or concern with care?
- Do they charge an exit fee?
Our helpful Choosing a Home Care Agency checklist can be a great tool to use to ensure you are finding the right home care solution for your or your loved one aging in place.
Support of an in-home care provider like Home Care Assistance, can bring enormous benefit and comfort to your quality of life while living independently at home. Home Care Assistance has viable solutions when it comes to supporting independent living. For more information, get in touch with us.
