You are on the waiting list for a Home Care Package
Once you have been assessed by the ACAT you will shortly be advised on whether you have been approved for a Home Care Package (HCP), at that time you will be put on the HCP waiting list.
The length of time that you are on the waiting depends on the level of HCP you have been approved for and the demand for HCPs at that time.
There are 4 levels of HCPs, Level 1 being the lowest and Level 4 being the highest. The higher the HCP level the longer the wait. If you are waiting for a level 2, 3, or 4 HCP you could be offered a lower-level HCP first. Don’t worry you won’t lose you place in the cue for your higher-level HCP if you accept it.
About 90 day (3 Months) before you receive an HCP offer you will receive a letter from My Aged Care that your will be receiving an offer shortly. This is the time to start talking to providers and working out who you would like to have manage your package.
There are several things that you may wish to use in making that decision, including:
- The fees and charges the Service Provider charges
- Staff availability
- The reputation of the service provider
- How you feel when you are speaking to the service provider
- Administration process of the provider
- The Basic Daily Care Fee and Income Tested Fee (if part pension or fully funded retiree) – cost to you
We suggest that you chose a handful of providers and call them and discuss your needs and expectations. Ask them to explain their processes.
Discussing and comparing fees can be bewildering. We suggest that the best way to do this is to develop a support plan. An example, for a level 2 HCP, could be:
- Housework 1.5 hours per week
- Shopping 2 hours once a fortnight
- Lawn mowing once a month
Ask each provider what the balance would be each month after they have considered the government funding and your Basic Daily Care Fee. This should help you understand the total cost of the HCP and allow you to compare providers on cost.
You don’t have to rush you will have three months to do this, but if you start early, you will be able to select a provider as soon as you receive your letter of offer from My Aged Care.
What should I do if I am not ready when I receive my letter of offer? What are my next steps?
What should I do if I receive my letter advising I have been assigned a HCP and I have not done any preparation?
Once again don’t worry you have 8 weeks to sort this out before your offer lapses. Start your discussion with providers now. If 8 weeks is not long enough, you can ring My Aged Care 1800 200 422 and request another 4 weeks.
If you require help finding a provider in your area, please ring AgedCare Alternatives on 8408 4600 and we can help and support you through this process.
