Begin your My Aged Care journey your way
Remain living independently in your own home for longer with access to My Aged Care.
In case you missed it: The Support at Home program is formerly known as Home Care Package (HCP) services. Read more about Support at Home.
What is My Aged Care?
Most Australians want to be in charge of decisions about how they live their lives, all their lives, even if they have to deal with health and mobility challenges.
My Aged Care is the starting point for accessing Australian Government-funded aged care services. It is a government-run service that gives those requiring aged care access to government-funded services such as in-home care, short-term support, and residential aged care. If you need a little extra support in your daily life, you can get assessed for aged care support funding through My Aged Care. With these support funds, you can live independently, wherever and however you want to.
Who is eligible for My Aged Care?
Generally speaking, My Aged Care is available for people over 65 years of age (or Indigenous Australians aged 50+) who need extra support to continue living well.
You might be eligible if you meet certain criteria, including:
- Having experienced a recent fall, reduced mobility or changes in your memory capacity
- Being diagnosed with a medical condition
- Having changes in your existing care arrangements.
Depending on your eligibility, the government might fund your needs partially or entirely. You can check your eligibility on MyAgedCare or apply for an assessment.
What are the steps involved in applying for and commencing My Aged Care?
There are four basic steps involved in your journey to receiving My Aged Care benefits.
Step 1: Explore what kind of care is available
Aged care support and services fall into three categories:
- Care in your own home – this aims to help you stay independent at home as you age. It includes services such as transport, personal care, housework, social support and modifications to your home. Help at home can be accessed through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) or a Support at Home funding.
- Care in a residential aged care facility – if you’re unable to manage in your own home, and need ongoing help with everyday tasks or healthcare.
- Short-term care (in your home or elsewhere) – if you need more intensive care following a hospital stay, or your loved ones need a short break from caring for you, short-term care could include support for a few hours, days or up to 12 weeks.
All of these types of care are acceptable as reasons to apply for My Aged Care.
Step 2: Get assessed for your aged care needs
To access My Aged Care funding, you’ll need to complete an assessment.
First, apply on My Aged Care or phone 1800 200 422 to speak to someone at My Aged Care.
Next, an assessor will visit your home to determine which aged care services you could benefit from.
Step 3: Find a support provider
When your Support at Home funding is approved, you don’t receive the funds directly. A Support at Home provider ‘hosts’ your funding and pays invoices for services on your behalf. They may also be called a ‘Home Care Package fund manager’.
HomeMade is a registered Support at Home provider.
You can start looking for a provider any time you like, even before you are approved. That way, you have plenty of time to learn about how they operate and compare the costs. When your funding is approved, you’ll be ready to sign up and begin receiving support.
Step 4: Manage your services
To have more control over how you spend your funding and choosing the people who support you, what they do and when, you can choose to self-manage or fully manage your Support at Home funding.
Managing your Support at Home funding means paying lower administration fees, resulting in more of your funding available to spend on you. Choose a provider who helps you get support on your terms without breaking the budget.
HomeMade is a great option.
Choose HomeMade as your approved provider, and you can retain control of your plan and budget while getting the support you want. Whether you’re thinking about self-management or want to leave it to the experts, HomeMade offers Australia’s best-value home care.
If your Support at Home funding has been approved, book a call with us to discuss how HomeMade can support you with your aged care funding.
Is My Aged Care the right choice for you?
Most Australians want to be in charge of decisions regarding how they live their lives, all their lives, even if they have to deal with health and mobility challenges.
If you need a little extra support in your daily life, you can access aged care support services. With these support services, you can live independently, wherever and however you want to.
My Aged Care is the starting point for accessing Australian Government-funded aged care services.
Explore your My Aged Care eligibility as soon as possible
As an older Australian, you may very well be entitled to My Aged Care funding to go towards support services that help keep you healthy, independent and connected to your community. Keep in mind, however, that there could be long wait times between your assessment, approval and commencement.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing says the average wait time for a Support at Home funding to be approved is between six months and a year, depending on the level of the package in question.
So the earlier you apply for an assessment online, the better.
