What Exactly Is a Home Care Package?
Are you looking for a way to relieve your loved ones from the stress of caring for their home? Do you want to make sure that they are getting the best care possible without having to worry about it? An in-home care package is one solution that will provide them with all of this and more.
Home care packages are a great way to take on some of the responsibilities of caring for an aging parent. These packages can be delivered from home care providers and in most cases, funded by the Australian government.
They include a variety of services ranging from meal preparation, housekeeping, transportation, and companionship. They can be tailored to meet specific needs or budget concerns while still providing peace of mind that your elderly loved one is being cared for properly. If you’re interested in learning more about how these packages work and what they include, read on!
Who Is Eligible?
First of all, don’t mix the home care packages with the commonwealth home support programme. Commonwealth home support programmes only provides essential assistance where Home Care Packages offer a higher level of help and support when situations demand to fulfil more complex needs. In other words, Home Care packages are for those older people who need more support than the Commonwealth Home Support Programme offers.
So, now, who is eligible for a Home Care Package?
To get the answer, an assessment process will take place on the applicant, and the assessment will be done by the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) or the Regional Assessment Team (RAS). The eligibility assessment will be held based on the following criteria:
The person who is 65 years or older needs coordinated services that will help them live independently by staying at home. If an older person only needs a low level of support or less than this, Commonwealth Home Support Programme is appropriate with no requirement of the home care package.
After the primary assessment, if the assessment team or healthcare provider agrees that the home care package is appropriate for you, the next step is to determine which level of package is suitable for you. To determine this, an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) will visit your residence and determine which level of package you will need.
They will conduct an extensive assessment of the person’s physical capacity and cognition. It will help the assessment team to understand the individual needs of the person, and then they will determine which level of package is best suited for them. The financial situation will be assessed during this process, even though this will not affect the eligibility. This will be taken into account to determine how much the person can contribute depending on income. They will also take into account the person’s personal preferences while selecting the service.
After everything is appropriately assessed, the ACAT team will sanction one of four levels of care for that person. After that, the person has to choose a provider and then the package will be placed in the government approval queue. Once the place is available, that person can take the appropriate level of approved funding and start to utilise services.
Types of Home Care Packages Available
Home Care Packages are available in four different levels. Here, you will be approved for a specified level of package based on the support you require to continue to live and stay in your own home. Each package level includes a certain amount funded by the government and paid to your chosen provider directly. Let’s have a look at the Home Care Package levels:
- Level 1: People who are entitled to basic level care needs
- Level 2: People who are entitled to low-level care needs
- Level 3: People who are entitled to intermediate level care needs
- Level 4: People who are entitled to high-level care needs
Consult with your chosen care provider and decide how to utilise the package funding in the best possible way. Also, if the Australian Government (e.g., Medicare Benefits Schedule) already funds any other fees or charges, these are not covered by your Home Care funding.
Consider Hills Nursing For Your Home Care Needs
A Home Care Package from Hills Nursing allows you to retain your independence while ensuring that professional help is on hand whenever you might need it. Our packages include nursing care, personal care support, and household chores such as light housekeeping and cooking packed together in one convenient service. By choosing this type of package, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’ll always have the help you need in caring for yourself and getting on with your daily life. Our services include:
Nursing Care
Hills Nursing Home Care Services provides registered nurses who are highly skilled at providing care for older Australians. They can provide direct patient care to ensure that all medical needs are met, including but not limited to administering medications, taking vital signs, and monitoring health status. Registered nurses also help develop nursing care plans according to the medical conditions of patients.
Personal Care
Personal care is one of the most basic but critical aspects that we can provide. It’s vital to keep up with all daily hygiene and take proper care of ourselves. The same goes for our loved ones. If you need more assistance to take care of yourself, you can include hygiene and personal assistance in your package. Personal care includes Hygiene
- Bathing
- Showering
- Dressing
- Grooming
- Nutrition
- Meal preparation
- Eating
- Using and cleaning utensils, etc.
- Home Maintenance
Hills Nursing Home Care Services will complete minor home maintenance tasks such as organizing closets, changing light bulbs, clearing guttering etc. This ensures that your family members can enjoy an excellent, worry-free stay in their home environment for as long as possible. Other services include:
- Cleaning. Indoor cleaning, outdoor cleaning, kitchen cleaning, bathroom cleaning etc
- Laundry and ironing
- Gardening
- And other chores;
- Handling Transportation
The team at Hills Nursing Homecare Services provides transportation to medical appointments or social events for senior citizens. They also coordinate transportation planning so seniors can maintain an active lifestyle by attending religious activities, transacting errands, going out with friends or family members, etc.
Social Support And Care
Understanding the importance of social connection for well-being, Hills Nursing offers opportunities for patients to gather together in community activities such as bingo games. Social gatherings, groups, club memberships, entertainment activities, going to class, visiting friends, and attending social & community programs help you stay active and involved. You can get social assistance if you need it the most.
Understanding the importance of social connection for well-being, Hills Nursing offers opportunities for patients to gather together in community activities such as bingo games. Social gatherings, groups, club memberships, entertainment activities, going to class, visiting friends, and attending social & community programs help you stay active and involved. You can get social assistance if you need it the most.
Summing Up
The list does not just end here. There are many other services available for your convenience. If you’re looking for a home care provider, Hills Nursing is a perfect choice. We offer personalized packages that are tailored to fit your needs and budget. Give us a call today!
